Transport Statistics for Surrey Movement Monitoring Report 2008/9

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1 7. ROAD SAFETY Surrey is committed to making Surrey s roads safer for all road users. Through careful planning and good road design, together with a strong road safety education and enforcement programme, the Council and its partners strive to reduce injuries and make using the roads a safer and more positive experience. In 2007 the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership installed 10 new safety camera enforcement sites at collision hotspots. They also invested in 26 new Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) on the approach to camera sites to remind drivers of the limits and make the drivers aware of the enforcement 73. A comparison of before data (the average number of collisions per year in the three years prior to cameras going live), with after data (the average number of collisions per year during the first two years and three months of enforcement provided by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership to the end of June 2007) shows that there has been: 35% reduction in the total number of collisions (equivalent to 47 fewer collisions per year) across 17 fixed and 3 mobile speed enforcement sites. 71% reduction in collisions resulting in death or serious injury (equivalent to 14 fewer collisions resulting in death or serious injury per year) across 17 fixed and 3 mobile sites. 11% reduction in the total number of collisions (equivalent to 5 fewer collisions per year) across 11 red light violation camera sites. 61% reduction in collisions resulting in death or serious injury (equivalent to 6 fewer collisions resulting in death or serious injury per year) across 11 red light violation camera sites. Details of the other activities, schemes and campaigns currently being run within Surrey can be found on the Surrey County Council Road Safety pages available online at: Issue No. 1 Page 51 of 162 Document No. 3368/TS6/Doc_01

2 7.1. Casualties Number of Casualties Year Figure 7.1: All road casualties in Surrey, Figure 7.1 shows that from 1995 to 1999 there was a stabilisation in the total number of casualties. After 1999 the casualty rate shows more fluctuations with increases in 2001 and 2004 but an overall decrease from 1998 to present. The total number of casualties during the year 2007 has decreased by 19.1% from the baseline average. This reduction is smaller than the national average decrease of 22.5% and the South East decrease of 18.6%. 75 Further analysis of road casualties in Surrey during 2007 follows. 76 Nearly three quarters (73%) of all injuries in 2007 were caused to car drivers and passengers. This statistic alone highlights the high level of car use within the county, and the importance of reducing the number and lengths of car journeys, to not only improve the environment and congestion, but also to reduce the number of injuries on the road. Just 20% of all injuries in Surrey occurred on motorways and trunk roads. This highlights the fact that most injuries occur on roads with a speed limit of 40 mph or less, and mostly in built-up areas. As a result, the emphasis must continue to be on improving road safety in urban areas. 74 Surrey County Council (2008), Safety Engineering Team 75 Data extrapolated from the Department for Transport (2008), Road Casualties Great Britain: Surrey County Council (2008) Safety Engineering Team Issue No. 1 Page 52 of 162 Document No. 3368/TS6/Doc_01

3 Road casualty statistics can be broken down and analysed at district level. Table 7.1 shows casualties by district and by mode of transport. Injuries on motorways and trunk roads, which are the responsibility of the Highways Agency, are shown separately. Surrey County Council is responsible for all other public roads. Borough/ Pedal Motor Bus/ Goods Motorway Car Pedestrian Other Horse District Cycle Cycle Minibus Vehicle and Trunk Total Runnymede Spelthorne Surrey Heath Woking Elmbridge Epsom and Ewell Guildford Mole Valley Reigate and Banstead Tandridge Waverley Motorway and Trunk County Roads Total Table 7.1: Casualties by district and road user type 77 Table 7.1 shows that 16% of the 6113 casualties in Surrey during 2007 occurred in the Borough of Guildford whilst Epsom and Ewell suffered the least casualties with just 257 or 4% of the total. However it should be noted that the districts that make up Surrey are very different in their make up and therefore direct comparison of casualty statistics should be carried out with caution. For example, since Epsom and Ewell is the smallest borough in Surrey with no motorways or trunk roads, its low overall casualty rate would be expected. 77 Surrey County Council, (2008), Safety Engineering Team Issue No. 1 Page 53 of 162 Document No. 3368/TS6/Doc_01

4 7.2. Killed Or Seriously Injured 1200 Measured Results 1000 Target Trajectory Number of KSI Year Figure 7.2: Total number of people KSI in Surrey, NB Target was revised in In 2007, 10% of all injuries in Surrey resulted in death or serious injury. The total number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) fell by 1%, compared with the previous year. Figure 7.2 shows that there has been a general decrease of 36.8% of people KSI in 2007 compared to the baseline average (932 people). This decrease is greater than the national decrease of 35.2%, and the South East decrease of 25.7% 79. The original Surrey target was a 29% reduction in casualties by 2006 (corresponding to the national target of a 40% reduction by 2010). This target has since been stretched through a Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) so that a 53% reduction is to be achieved by In light of the figures mentioned above, Surrey s KSI casualty reduction performance is on course to achieve the Government s target for 2010, but not Surrey County Council s target for Surrey County Council (2008), Safety Engineering Team 79 Department for Transport (2008), Road Casualties Great Britain: Surrey County Council (2008), Safety Engineering Team Issue No. 1 Page 54 of 162 Document No. 3368/TS6/Doc_01

5 Measured Results Target Trajectory Number of Child KSI Year Figure 7.3: Total Number of child KSI in Surrey, Figure 7.3 shows that unlike all KSI, there has been a variation of both increases and decreases in child KSI during the period The relatively low numbers of child KSIs are especially susceptible to random fluctuations that occur from year to year in road safety statistics. It should be noted that 2003 and 2006 were exceptional years given the low number of child KSI casualties when compared with other years. Child KSI in 2007 shows a 55.5% decrease when compared against the baseline average. This can be compared favourably against the South East decrease of 48.6% and the national decrease of 54.9%. 82 The Surrey target is a 40% reduction in child casualties by 2007 (corresponding to the national target of a 50% reduction by 2010). This target has been achieved, and Surrey s Child KSI casualty reduction performance is on course to achieve the Government s target for Surrey County Council (2008), Safety Engineering Team 82 Data extrapolated from the Department for Transport (2008), Road Casualties Great Britain: 2007 Issue No. 1 Page 55 of 162 Document No. 3368/TS6/Doc_01

6 Altogether, these figures highlight the significant progress made in Surrey towards the Government's target of reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) in Great Britain in road accidents by 40% by 2010 compared with the baseline average for For more information about road accidents and casualties in Surrey please visit the following website: Issue No. 1 Page 56 of 162 Document No. 3368/TS6/Doc_01