Work to improve the safety of road users in West Yorkshire has been bolstered thanks to funding from the region’s Mayor.
As part of her commitment to drive forward road safety, since coming into office in 2021, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has funded a number of initiatives to improve the safety of all road users and provide post-crash support.
This includes providing vital funds to Brake, supporting the charity's vital work caring for families that have been bereaved or seriously injured in road crashes and campaigning for safe roads for everyone.
Over £20,000 is being used to support victims in West Yorkshire, including ensuring an information pack is given to all road victims and their families. Over the past 12 months, West Yorkshire Police’s Family Liaison Officers have received over 500 packs, which include serious injury guides, books for children, and family bereavement support.
Mayor Brabin encourages all road users to consider the safety of both themselves and others.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “Road safety is a top concern for West Yorkshire residents. Each and every road death is a tragedy, and we are working with partners to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads. I’m urging everybody to consider how they can be safer when travelling round our wonderful region.”
Jami Blythe, Development Manager at Brake said: “It is a sad fact that so many families are affected by road death and serious injuries and therefore they need the National Road Victim Service to help them through the hardest of times. Thankfully our amazing team of caseworkers are there to provide road victims with practical and emotional support to help them navigate the many challenges they face following trauma.
“In West Yorkshire, we are proud to be included in Vision Zero consultations, representing post-crash support. Our team have supported 40 families in West Yorkshire in the last 12 months, following road death and injury.
“We are grateful for the Mayor’s commitment to achieving safer roads and high standards of post-crash support, through this funding, and we will continue to campaign until the roads are safe for everyone.”
Inspector Claire Patterson, Head of Roads Policing at West Yorkshire Police, said:
“Our officers unfortunately have to deal with the aftermath of road traffic collisions on a daily basis and see the real-life impact on offenders, victims and their families when road users are seriously injured as a result of people driving dangerously on our roads.
“We are committed through education and enforcement to make the roads of West Yorkshire safer by working with our communities and working in partnership with local authorities and other organisations.”
Other ongoing work includes the targeting of the antisocial use of motorbikes with over £500,000, plus further funds given to local authorities for road safety operations tackling uninsured drivers, drink and drug driving, and removing unroadworthy vehicles.
These initiatives form part of the Mayor’s commitment to the Vision Zero ambition in West Yorkshire, which aims to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2040, working across all of the five districts.