Safe Speed Forums

FATAL road accidents have risen sharply in the borough whilst serious injuries are on the decline, according to new figures.

Figures released by Transport for London show that fatalities increased by 200 per cent in 2004 compared to 2003, and serious casualties went down by 39.3 per cent.

Overall, the total number of casualties, fatal, serious or slight, decreased by 14 per cent.

This comes at a time when the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has announced ambitious new road safety targets to halve the number of road deaths in London.

Cllr Mark Kreling, Richmond upon Thames Council's cabinet member for transport, said: "We are pleased that the overall figures are down. However, any deaths are a terrible tragedy.

"One thing you have to look at is that there have been some unusual accidents. The milkman who was in collision with a police van and on the A316 a few years ago a bike slowed down because of a speed camera and someone ran into him. There are unusual causes.

"We have got quite a decent road safety budget this year and we are looking to improve safety in the borough in imaginative ways, rather than putting in humps and further restrictions on the way you drive.

"Education is extremely important and we have a very big programme for schools and pedestrians."

The revised 50 per cent target London-wide follows a 19 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in the capital compared to a year ago.

The figures show that London's road accident rates are improving almost four times faster than the rest of the country.

Ken Livingstone said: "London is showing huge progress in cutting road injuries and deaths, disproving those who say that road safety measures have no positive impact.

"Any death or serious injury is one too many but these figures show that London's roads are getting safer more quickly than anywhere else in the UK. As we have very nearly met existing targets to reduce accidents by a full five years, I am setting even tougher targets to cut accidents further to 50 per cent by 2010.

"Transport for London will be working with the police and the boroughs to make our streets even safer for all our road users."

... and on the A316 a few years ago a bike slowed down because of a speed camera and someone ran into him.

One thing you have to look at is that there have been some unusual accidents. The milkman who was in collision with a police van and on the A316 a few years ago a bike slowed down because of a speed camera and someone ran into him. There are unusual causes

Ken Livingstone said: "London is showing huge progress in cutting road injuries and deaths, disproving those who say that road safety measures have no positive impact.

So Ken wants to halve road deaths, but if they're up 200% doesn't that just get him back where he started?

I think this article is only pointing to the borough of Richmond - sorry guys