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Beyond 2010 - Taking Stock and Moving Forward by Eleanor Besley
Executive Summary
Introduction
Taking Stock: Tomorrow’s Roads
A Road Safety Climate in Great Britain?
Where are we Today?
Local Authority Performance: A Fair Assessment?
Moving Forward : A Safer Way

Excerpt : Looking Forward - A Safer Way
Local Highway Authorities and their casualty reduction partners need to take on ‘smarter’ working processes. A more rigorous approach to evaluation, a clearer focus on evidence-led working through improved data analysis and more joined-up working between partners and across organisations will help to further road safety efforts over the course of the next strategy.

Based on the significant disparity of casualty reduction across GB, it is hoped that the DfT look more closely at minimising road risk through the application of more sophisticated targets, guidance, research and funding to road safety delivery partners by area-type or by region where applicable.

PACTS would like to see DfT taking a more delivery-based focus, working more closely with their road safety partners at the local level to provide consistent funding streams and to bridge the gap between academics and practitioners.

DfT should lead by example, outlining and demonstrating the benefits of closer joinedup working, working more closely with their colleagues across government to ensure that road safety becomes confirmed within the public health agenda. Good practice guidance should be offered to those at the local level, identifying ways in to communities and options for closer working with Primary Care Trusts (PCTS), schools,
fleet managers and, in many cases, Police Forces and Fire Services.

The DfT should acknowledge the lack of reference to road safety within Local Transport Plan (LTP) guidance and more effectively communicate the link with Advice about Local Road Safety Strategies. (4) This will provide Local Highway Authorities with some tangible assistance about what to include. There is a concern that safety relevance will be minimised if this step is not taken.

In the consultation for A Safer Way, the DfT indicated a high-level document which it is hoped would be legible and usable to those stakeholders who have less experience of road safety. However, the consultation did not provide any indication of delivery plans. It is hoped that the final strategy will either contain, or be accompanied by, a toolkit for all road safety partners and an outline of DfT’s specific commitment to casualty reduction over at least the next ten years.