Brake reacts to road safety cuts

UK road sfatey charity Brake has reacted with horror at the news that road safety programs are being disbanded by some local authorities following huge cuts to the road safety grant provided by central Government.

The Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership is ceasing operations in Oxfordshire as a result of funding cuts, meaning speed cameras will be switched off and other road safety work discontinued. The Devon and Cornwall partnership is also reported to be under threat.

This follows the 40% cut to the road safety grant provided by central Government to local authorities, which funds speed cameras and a range of other measures such as pedestrian crossings, 20mph zones and educational projects, such as offender re-education.

Brake deputy chief executive Julie Townsend said: “We are horrified that vital road safety work is grinding to a halt as a result of draconian funding cuts made by the Government. We have made a huge amount of progress in reducing tragic, needless and costly road deaths and injuries in recent years – progress that is at great risk of being undone.

“Road safety partnerships around the UK are delivering highly successful and economic work – particularly through the use of speed cameras. Turning cameras off, and pulling the plug on other important road safety work, is a disastrous blow for those communities relying on cameras to protect them, and an insult to those crying out for measures to cut speeds in their neighborhoods and those families so traumatically bereaved by speed.

“We are urging local authorities around the country to spread these funding cuts across departments – to at least ensure that existing measures that are proven to prevent deaths and injuries are not withdrawn.”

26 July 2010