Summary

Prepared by:

Summary

2014

Graham NewmanCabinet Member Roads and Transport

This Executive Summary, and the full Area Profile (which is available via: www.suffolkroadsafe.net ), provide an insight into the collisions on Suffolk’s roads and show how residents are involved in collisions.

The Suffolk Roadsafe Partners use this information to ensure that resources are directed in the most effective manner.

We are pleased to report that the overall collision trend on Suffolk’s road is down by 12% over the last five years. Child casualties have reduced at a noticeably faster rate than casualties in general.

Over the next twelve months we will be particularly keen to work together to reduce collisions amongst motorcyclists, young drivers and adult cyclists.

Motorcyclists from Suffolk are involved in collisions more often than the national norm and are at greater risk of suffering higher severity injuries than other road user groups.

Young drivers from Suffolk are at a higher risk of collision involvement that the national norm, although we are encouraged that the absolute numbers have declined by 27% in the last five years.

Adult pedal cyclist casualties on Suffolk’s roads have increased in recent years. To tackle this, Suffolk RoadSafe have published an in-depth study into the circumstances surrounding cycle collisions so that interventions are evidence-led. We have also developed a clear Cycling Strategy for Suffolk to promote safe and healthy cycling.

We will continue to work with partners to reduce collisions in Suffolk.

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The Suffolk Roadsafe Board is a non-statutory Board which was created in May 2007 to bring together the main agencies involved in road safety in the county. It comprises Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Suffolk Constabulary, the Highways Agency, Public Health, and the East of England Ambulance Service. The agencies work together to provide the best possible use of resources and road safety expertise from many different disciplines.

The Board is chaired by County Councillor Graham Newman, Cabinet Member for Roads and Transport.

The aim of the partnership is to make the roads of Suffolk safer for all.

12%Decrease in

collisions in the past 5 years

8%Decrease

in collisions on rural roads with a speed

limit of 40mph or less, in the past 5 years

In Suffolk the key groups of concern have been identified as:

• Motorcyclists • Young drivers/ riders (16-24) • Pedestrians • Cyclists

Other areas of concern are:

• Work related driving • Speeding • Older drivers • Offending drivers – otherwise known as ‘the fatal four’, drink/drug driving, speeding, driver distraction and failure to wear a seatbelt.

In preventing collisions there is not a single solution, but a need to reduce risk to road users and to encourage road users to reduce their own risk of danger to others through long-term measures.

Collisions have decreased 12% in 5 years2009 annual average 2,0282013 annual average 1,779

Collisions on rural roads with a speed limit of 40mph or less have decreased by only 8% in five years.2009 annual average 3802013 annual average 348

Collisions on Suffolk’s roads

13%There has been a 13% reduction in casualties in the past five years.2009 annual average 2,7862013 annual average 2,416

Reduction in casualties

Collision risk on the County’s road network (not necessarily involving local residents.)

Area Profile Summary

Driver control errors contribute to Suffolk collisions more than nationallyPercentage of collisions in Suffolk

25%

Percentage of collisions in Mid Suffolk

30%

Percentage of collisions in Babergh

29%

National percentage of collisions

22%

Driver speed choice contributes to Suffolk collisions more than nationallyPercentage of collisions in Suffolk

14%

Percentage of collisions in Babergh

19%

Percentage of collisions in St Edmundsbury

18%

National percentage of collisions

12%

Child casualties have decreased 25% in five years.2009 annual average 2522013 annual average 190

25%Decrease

in child casualties in the past 5 years

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Most involved drivers come from the East of England.Suffolk resident drivers 81%Norfolk or Essex resident drivers

12%

81%

Urban collision rate by road length is 18% less than the norm.Suffolk annual average 5.6 collisions per km of

urban roadNational annual average

6.8 collisions per km of urban road

Rural collision rate by road length is 13% less than the normSuffolk annual average 1.9 collisions per km of

rural roadNational annual average

2.1 collisions per km of rural road

Driver speed choice contributes more to Suffolk collisions in rural areasPercentage of collisions on urban roads in Suffolk

8%

Percentage of collisions on rural roads in Suffolk

17%

18%Lower Urbancollision rate

13%Lower Rural

collision rate

17%Rural Collisions due

to speed choice

Area Profile Summary

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Road Risk for Suffolk Residents*Risk to residents is a primary road safety measure because it enables genuine

comparison betwen communities, districts and the national picture.

Resident casualties have decreased 15% in the past five years.2009 annual average 2,5832013 annual average 2,183

Most Suffolk resident casualties are injured in the county or nearby.Injured in Suffolk 83%Injured in Norfolk, Essex or Cambridge

13%

Young Adults from Suffolk face even higher risk levels (compared to population) than their peers.Suffolk resident young adult casualties over represented by

172%

All British resident young adult casualties over represented by

108%

Some types of community experience disproportionate risk (Compared to population)Rural families in affordable village homes who are reliant on the local economy for jobs

34% Higher

Families with many children living in areas of high deprivation and who need support.

35% Higher

15%Decrease in resident

casualties over the past five years

83%

172%108%

Young Adults

Risk National

Rural families in affordable village homes who are reliant on the local economy for jobs

Families with many children living in areas of high deprivation and who need support

* The classification system used is Mosaic public sector, a powerful consumer classification system built to help public bodies understand and address the needs of the citizens they serve.

Area Profile Summary

Child resident casualties have decreased 32% in five years2009 annual average 2352013 annual average 159

Child resident casualties occur disproportionately in more deprived communitiesMost deprived child casualties over represented (compared to population) by

+56%

Least deprived child casualties under represented (compared to population) by

-28%

Resident adult cyclist casualties are going up, while child casualties are going down2009 adult cyclist casualties annual average

130

2013 adult cyclist casualties annual average

160 (23% higher)

2009 child cyclist casualties annual average

42

2013 child cyclist casualties annual average

31 (26% lower)

Cyclist casualty risk rates (per 100k population) are particularly high in two districts.Annual average Suffolk resident casualty rate

25.0

Annual average Ipswich resident casualty rate

38.7

Annual average Waveney resident casualty rate

36.6

Annual average national resident casualty rate

30.0

32%Decrease in child

resident casualties over the past five

years

+56%Most Deprived -28%

Least Deprived

130160

Adult Cyclist

Casualties

2009

2013

4231

ChildCyclist

Casualties

2009

2013

38.7Ipswich

36.6Waveney

30.0National

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Area Profile Summary

24%Decrease in resident

young driver collision involvement in the

past five yearsResident young driver collision involvement has decreased 24% in the past five years.2009 annual average 6292013 annual average 478

56.0Waveney 55.7

Ipswich

40.7National

Motorcyclist collision involvement rates (per 100k population) are particularly high in two districts.Annual average Suffolk resident motorcyclist involvement rate

45.0

Annual average Ipswich resident motorcyclist involvement rate

55.7

Annual average Waveney resident motorcyclist involvement rate

56.0

Annual average national motorcyclist involvement rate

40.7

Suffolk resident drivers are involved in collisions 8% less frequently than the national normAnnual average Suffolk resident involved drivers (per 100k population)

469.9

Annual average British resident involved drivers (per 100k population)

512.8

8%Less frequently

involved in collisions than the National

norm

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Young driver collision involvement rates (per 100k population) remain particularly high in three districts.Annual average Suffolk resident young driver involvement rate

686.0

Annual average Mid-Suffolk resident young driver involvement rate

889.1

Annual average Babergh resident young driver involvement rate

832.2

Annual average Suffolk Coastal resident young driver involvement rate

822.1

Annual average National young driver involvement rate

530.9

ConclusionThe overall road safety trend in Suffolk is positive.Local residents are at lower risk of being injured than the national average.

Collisions on the county’s roads are becoming less frequent.

Significant risk remains, particularly for: Young adult drivers from rural districts; Both motorcyclists and pedal cyclists from urban areas.

This profile identifies areas and community types where higher risk groups are predominate, providing an intelligence led basis for developing future road safety campaigns.

530.9National

832.2Babergh

To access the full Area Profile and other casualty reports, please visit www.suffolkroadsafe.net

The website also contains more information on Suffolk RoadSafe’s activities and the work of its partners: Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Suffolk Constabulary, the Highways Agency, Public Health and the East of England Ambulance Service.

For more information about the content of reports and the work of partners, please contact suffolkroadsafe@suffolk.gov.uk