Action call over road accident figures

Despite reduced road use during the coronavirus pandemic, 29 people lost their lives due to collisions in the area during 2020 – a 27% drop in the number of people killed or seriously hurt.

There was also an overall drop of 29% in the total number of casualties – from 2,990 in 2019 to 2,121.

Nationally, fatal and serious road traffic accidents dropped by more than a fifth.

Road traffic across Britain dropped by over a fifth in 2020 compared to the previous year with the overall number of casualties plunging by a quarter but cyclist deaths rose, from 100 in 2019 to 140 last year.

A spokesman for Brake called for better investment in vehicle safety and infrastructure, more segregated spaces for cyclists and pedestrians and appropriate speed limits.

He added: "We need a concerted focus on reducing road deaths and catastrophic injuries."

AA president Edmund King said: “We all have a responsibility to one another to ensure people can travel safely.”

“For many years the Government has not set any road safety targets and, if we are serious about a vision zero for road deaths, the Government should urgently reintroduce targets so we can work hard to end road deaths as quickly as possible.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “While we have some of the safest roads in the world, this Government will continue to work tirelessly to ensure they are made even safer.”