As Road Safety Week 2024 starts, people in West Yorkshire are
being urged to pledge their commitment to improving safety
through signing the Vision Zero Pledge.
This asks people to think about the simple actions they can take
to make a real difference on the region's roads to help save
lives.
These include driving at safe speeds, giving other road users
enough space, always wearing a seatbelt and maintaining vehicles.
, Mayor of West Yorkshire,
said:
“On average, around one person a week dies on the roads of West
Yorkshire and thousands are also injured every year.
“Those aren't just numbers, they're people. They have families
and friends who are deeply affected by their loss.
“The only acceptable number of road deaths is zero. Together, we
have the power to change this and we must look to make that a
reality.”
The effect of road death and serious injury is plain to see on
the Vision Zero memorial webpage which
has been launched alongside the pledge. Anyone signing can
dedicate it in someone's memory, which is then added to the page.
Dedications include:
“I pledge this on behalf of my Dad, but also a husband,
brother, uncle and friend to all who knew him. [He] was killed
instantly by joyriders back in 1992 when they slammed into the
side of the car he and I were in.”
“My uncle who was knocked off his grandsons cycle near
Bristol. He had only been retired 4 months when it happened in
July 1991. He was in a coma for 3 months before he passed over in
Oct 1991.”
“To a 5 year old girl who died as a result of
speed.”
OBE, Chair of the West
Yorkshire Vision Zero Board and Deputy Mayor for Policing and
Crime, said:
“Basic changes in behaviour would make an incredible difference
to the safety of our roads.
“For instance, last year alone, careless driving was a factor in
more than half of all collisions resulting in fatal or serious
injuries.
“If everyone does their bit to increase safety, and we all watch
out for one another, the difference would be enormous.”
To sign the pledge, visit https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/vz-pledge/.
This summer saw the launch of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero
Strategy, the plan to eradicate all road deaths and serious
injuries across the county by 2040. At the strategy's heart is
the message that everyone has a responsibility to keep people
safe on our roads, and we must all work together.
To find out more about Vision Zero, visit www.visionzerowy.co.uk.
