The report of the Interim Director, Place, Document “R” provides an update on current casualty levels and trends in the Bradford District and the Capital Programmes, Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity initiatives aimed at addressing dangerous driving and anti-social driving behaviour. 

The report also sets out the Council’s commitment to Vision Zero.

Recommended –

1.    That the contents of Document “R” be noted.

2.    That the Interim Strategic Director, Place, be requested to provide an update report in 12 months’ time to include outputs and outcomes on driver enforcement and driver behaviour.

(Simon D’Vali – 01535 618375)

The report of the Interim Director, Place, Document “R” provided an update on current casualty levels and trends in the Bradford District and the Capital Programmes, Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity initiatives aimed at addressing dangerous driving and anti-social driving behaviour. 

The report also set out the Council’s commitment to Vision Zero.

The Principal Engineer acknowledged that there was a disconnect between the report presented and what Members had expected.  He reported his considerable experience of working in the district; the problems faced from dangerous driving and the interventions required to protect residents.

It was explained that Bradford suffered from the highest level of car occupants not using seat belts in the country and the second highest level of untaxed cars.

A lack of legislation had hindered attempts to tackle the issues, however, the Traffic Management Act Part 6 would now enable the Council to control traffic movement orders and be more proactive.

It was reported that an evidence base was required to enable interventions to be put in place but that shortly it would no longer be necessary to go to the extremes previously required for the installation of speed cameras in areas with persistent speeding problems.  On a West Yorkshire level five separate vehicles were being purchased which could be deployed outside of the fixed camera zones.  It was believed that those measures would demonstrate that Bradford was an area that would not tolerate speed.  It was agreed that as soon as further information was available on that issue it would be shared with Members.

Details of the Vision Zero campaign were reported.

Members were informed of the West Yorkshire Transport Strategy 2040 inclusion of a specific aim to reduce road accidents, aspiring to ‘zero tolerance’ of transport-related deaths. Adoption of ‘Vision Zero’ had been accepted by the West Yorkshire Safer Roads Executive and the newly established Vision Zero Board which was in the process of developing the reality of that vision for the district.  There were also aspirations to encourage walking and cycling by improving safety. Milestones and targets were currently being considered at a West Yorkshire level. That multi-agency approach would include data sharing between agencies such as social services; the police and fire service to maximise outputs.

It was explained that the Council did not have the legislative authority to deal with all the issues faced and was the rationale for the partnership approach required.

Political support was also requested to address issues in particular areas of the city.  It was explained that a child living in a deprived area was twenty times more likely to be involved in a road traffic accident than children in other areas.  Certain areas were particularly car centric with residents using cars for the shortest of journeys.  A better understanding of ways to engage with those communities was needed and it was believed that political support, for initiatives which were not particularly liked by communities, would help.  Initiatives to encourage mothers to speak to their children about dangerous driving or the use of seat belts was being considered. 

The Chair explained that the reason the report had been requested was to enable Members to understand the lack of enforcement around uninsured drivers; dangerous driving and unsafe vehicles. 

It was acknowledged that enforcement of traffic violations was the responsibility of the Police and in response to suggestions that it would have been helpful if the police had been at the meeting it was confirmed that they had been invited.

It was recognised that, in reality, there would never be enough police or sufficient cameras to encourage behaviours and prevent offending.  The problems with parked vehicles blocking streets and pathways were also raised.  In response the Principal Engineer explained that the West Yorkshire Cameras Partnership had redrafted the strategy for the deployment of cameras.  Professional advice had been sought and the strategy was now less rigid.  The installation of cameras would be based around anti-social behaviour.  The purchase of five vehicles to be deployed outside the fixed camera zones and would make the district unique in that cameras could be installed anywhere on the network.

The installation of average speed cameras on local roads would be carried out within the current municipal year.

It was reported that the Department for Transport had requested information on parking issues and officers had provided evidence toward the production of a Government Green Paper although that had been delayed. Those proposals would provide Council’s with the authority to fairly enforce parking on footpaths.  The authority would be working closely with the police on those issues. 

A Member referring to communications policies included in Document “R” requested that the programme of radio advertising aimed at drivers and focussed on the fatal four (the four factors most closely associated with KSIs – speed, impairment, distraction & non seat belt use) include Sunrise Radio.  It was also suggested that statistics on the impact of seat belts in reducing severity of accidents be publicised in the areas of most need. The Principal Engineer re-iterated his wish to work more closely with elected Members to engage with local communities.

Members requested that plans to engage with local communities  be communicated to them.  The idea to engage with mothers to educate their children on dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour was welcomed.

It was explained that the strategic document currently being prepared on Vision Zero would set out proposals and encompass the views expressed by Members.  Meaningful two-way communication with communities was required to understand the issues around the district and facilitate engagement.  In response to a view that waiting for the production of the strategy would delay communication Members were assured that the Principal Engineer would work on engagement methods separately to that process.

A Member referred to a motion to Council to extend play streets and restrict cars which he believed could be strengthened to improve road safety and facilitate a move from car centric areas.  It was believed that residents may have no realisation that parking on pavements or loud exhaust emissions was a form of anti-social behaviour.

It was also questioned why no reference was made in the report to the serious incidents caused by the use of nitrous oxide canisters.

It was explained that the impact of the use of nitrous oxide canisters had been raised with the police.  The substance was out of the system within ten minutes and was, therefore, very difficult to enforce. The substance was used in the catering industry so loop holes in legislation did exist and the issue was becoming a national problem.

A view that Operation Steerside had not been effective was countered by the Principal Engineer who explained that anti-social issues would be much worse in the district without that initiative.  He reported that his service worked very well with the police and partners but it was acknowledged that they could not deal with all issues in the city.  A targeted approach was required to engage with residents to prevent issues such as children driving vehicles in the area at 14 years old.

In response to the extension of play streets it was explained that staffing resources were not available to manage those; there were not enough engineers in the district and the use of agency staff was now allowed.  It was agreed to discuss that issue with the Portfolio Holder. 

Concerns were raised about the number of supercars being hired for weddings and special occasions and driven around the district by young people without the experience or capability to handle such vehicles. It was believed that there were previous plans to encourage car hire firms to be more discerning about the people who hired those vehicles and it was questioned if those plans had progressed.  It was explained that police had been proactive in installing road blocks in areas where those cars were being paraded during times of celebration.  The police had been in discussions with the hire companies.  Those companies were not acting illegally and the outcome of the discussions was not known.  

A Member referred to previous years’ budgets, which had been considerably larger, and had not been able to solve the issue of dangerous driving in the area.  He was advised that officers were working more smartly and moving away from a post-collision response.   The service was working with partners to add value and share expertise and information.

The impact of the five vehicles across the whole of West Yorkshire was questioned and it was explained that these would enable drivers to be fined for anti-social behaviour anywhere in the city and would demonstrate a no tolerance approach to dangerous driving.

Resolved –

(1)  The Committee requests that an update report be presented in 12 months’ time which includes outputs and outcomes on driver enforcement and driver behaviour, as well as details relating to zero tolerance.

(2)  That officers from West Yorkshire Police also attend the meeting.

Action: Strategic Director, Place.