Road safety

We want to make residential areas safer for children and want traffic to recognise the needs of all vulnerable road users. We encourage, where appropriate, traffic calming schemes, 20 mph zones, safe routes to schools and alternatives to the car.

Casualty Reduction Targets

In 2000, the Welsh Government set targets for the reduction in road casualties in the period up to 2010. Compared with the average for 1994-1998 we want to see:

• a 40% reduction in the total number of people killed and seriously injured;
• a 50% reduction in the total number of children killed or seriously injured; and
• a 10% reduction in the rate of slight casualties per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled.

By the end of 2010, these targets had been achieved and exceeded. The number of people killed or seriously injured had fallen by 46% and the number of children killed or seriously injured had fallen by 63%. The slight casualty rate had fallen by 42%.

New safety targets, which are to be achieved by the end of 2012, move the previous targets forward and show the further reductions in road traffic casualties that we hope to achieve, as compared with the average over the base period of 1994 to 1998.

The targets are:

• An overall reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured on Welsh roads by 50% (this will mean 83 fewer people badly hurt or killed, as compared with the record low achieved in 2010).
• The number of children killed or seriously injured on Welsh roads reduced by 65% (this will mean seven fewer children being badly hurt or killed, as compared with the record low in 2010).

We have recently completed a consultation exercise on the Road Safety Delivery Plan which will set out our strategic approach to road safety until 2020 and will include new targets for casualty reduction. We are currently analysing the responses received and will publish the final Plan in early 2013.