Huge spike in deaths and injuries on Gloucestershire’s roads

There are serious concerns over a sharp rise in the number of people killed and injured on Gloucestershire’s roads.

There were 113 serious injuries and two deaths due to crashes on county highways between January and March this year.

This is almost double the average of 60 incidents over the same period for the previous ten years. And an increase of 22.3 per cent on the same period last year.

Councillor Lisa Spivey (LD, The Ampneys and Hampton) says the issue is extremely concerning and it is not the first time it has been raised at Gloucestershire County Council.

“Our road safety stats on the number killed and seriously injured are getting worse and worse it seems. It’s of huge concern,” she told the corporate overview and scrutiny committee on September 27.

“I’m not suggesting everybody in this council does not take it seriously but any time it seems to be raised it creates quite a lot of angst.

“I’m not sure what the answers are but looking at this quarter it says it’s almost double the average of incidents in the same period in the previous ten years.

“It’s getting worse and not better and it’s a really, really huge concern especially representing a rural community with loads and loads of roads. It’s really, really dangerous.”

Policy, performance and governance director Rob Ayliffe said the council shares her concerns and is planning to invest on road improvements at accident hotspots.

He said: “We are beginning next year’s medium term financial strategy process and part of that, one of the many things, we are looking at is what capital improvements can be made to improve road safety.

“Particularly at accident prone spots where most highway incidents are occuring. The council as a whole shares that concern and are looking at what can be done about it.

“There is also a road safety strategy which is being developed to address that.”

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk