Glasgow sets target of zero road fatalities by 2030

The City of Glasgow has set a target of having no fatalities or serious injuries on its roads by 2030 as part of a new road safety strategy.

The plan will include measures such as improved road safety engineering and enforcement, the introduction of safety cameras at key locations, initiatives that improve road safety around city schools, education projects, cycle training schemes and road safety campaigns.

In 2019, nine people were killed and 160 seriously injured as a result of road traffic collisions on Glasgow roads, with another 750 sustaining minor injuries.

The Council says road safety has been steadily improving across the city over the past decade, with the numbers killed or seriously injured in general decline.

“Road collisions have an immeasurable impact on those directly involved, but also create a significant financial impact on public services,” said Councillor Anna Richardson, Glasgow’s City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction.

“But concerns about road safety can also deter people from walking, cycling or spending time outdoors.

“To build healthier, more active communities, it is essential that we design streets for people rather than traffic.”

Speed limits

The Council has found that 92 percent of collisions occurred within a 30mph limit area, and will introduce a city-wide 20mph speed limit as part of the plan.

Traffic calming measures and steps to entice people away from their cars have already proved controversial in some areas, however, with the construction of segregated cycle lanes in the west of the city being opposed by some residents.

“Implementing low traffic neighbourhoods will limit through traffic on residential streets and will help to create safer spaces within communities where people can feel more confident walking, wheeling or cycling,” added Richardson.

“No level of death or serious injury is acceptable in our road transport network. Our vision of zero serious or fatal incidents by 2030 is undoubtedly challenging, but achieving this target will make an enormous difference to the wellbeing of the city.”

Vision Zero

Vision Zero – the aim of having no fatalities or serious injuries involving road traffic – first originated in Sweden in 1995 and has since gathered pace globally as a guiding aspiration for road safety authorities.

The European Commission has pledged to reduce road deaths to almost zero by 2050, aiming to halve fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.

Individual cities around the world have their own targets and strategies, including London, which aims to reach its Vision Zero target by 2041.

Image: Daniel (Flickr)