Annual road deaths at all time low

A TOTAL of 30 lives were lost on South Yorkshire’s roads last year - the lowest toll since records began.

In 2002, 63 people died on the county’s roads, which rose to 71 in 2006. But last year the figure fell to an all-time low.

Chief Superintendent Keith Lumley from South Yorkshire Police, chair of the Safer Roads Partnership said: “Ten years ago in the 2002, 63 people died on South Yorkshire roads compared to 30 in 2011.”

“This is testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams within the Safer Roads Partnership to make every road user safer.”

“Every death is however a tragedy and we will strive to reduce further the numbers of people killed on our roads through what we know are successful reduction methods.”

“We will continue to run initiatives that have an impact in reducing risk and casualties, these include a range of targeted educational based activities and road based engineering improvements.”

“Police enforcement will also target those drivers who speed, drink and drive, drive while under the influence of drugs, illegally use mobile phones, don’t wear seatbelts or drive in a dangerous manner.”

“Prosecution is often a last resort but if it is proportionate and modifies driving behaviour leading to a life being saved then it is worth it.”

Ken Wheat, South Yorkshire Safer Roads partnership manager said: “In addition to the record low for the number of people killed on the county’s roads, the figures also show that killed and seriously injured casualties are down by 8.7 per cent based on the three year average.”