In 2014, 1,854 people were killed, 23,517 seriously injured and 178,494 slightly injured in reported road crashes on UK roads. This was an increase from the previous year, and the numbers may continue to increase as the economy improves, and traffic levels rise. Road crashes and casualties: * Cause immeasurable loss and trauma for the victims and their families and friends * Result in an enormous economic loss to the UK economy * Impose a huge burden on our health service, resulting in a significant proportion of A&E attendances and hospital admissions * Impose massive costs on local authority, police and fire and rescue services * Cause financial losses to employers and organisations * Cause a significant amount of the congestion on our roads Effective road safety: * Saves lives and prevents (often life-changing) injuries * Enables people to live healthy and full lives * Prevents emotional and psychological trauma * Saves an immense amount of public money * Reduces the burden on over-stretched public services, such as health and social care * Supports other public policies, such as improving health by helping and encouraging people to walk and cycle in a safe and attractive environment * Helps to tackle health inequalities * Improves community cohesion and quality of life Local authorities have various statutory duties related to road safety, including taking steps to reduce and prevent accidents, promoting road safety, and securing the safe movement of traffic and pedestrians. Other local agencies, such as the Police, Fire and Rescue Services and Public Health, also have duties to help prevent road crashes and casualties. As the lead delivery agent of road safety activity, local government has made a significant contribution to the substantial reductions in the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. It has worked hard over the last few years to continue to provide road safety services while coping with major reductions to its budgets. However, with further budget restrictions over the next few years, local authorities will be making very difficult decisions on where to reduce spending. Road safety cannot be immune to these financial realities, but there are many reasons to protect road safety spending, as much as possible. It is an ethically, socially and economically sound policy area that delivers real cost savings, and improves peoples’ lives. “Making Road Safety Count” highlights the human and economic importance of protecting road safety spending, as much as possible, and to demonstrate the value of providing effective road safety programmes that are: * Informed by local data and evidence, and prioritise high risk groups and areas * Based on a Safe System approach * Planned and delivered in partnership with other agencies, and in consultation with local people * Evaluated to assess effectiveness and identify improvements. (Author/publisher)
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