15 November 2024
As part of Road Safety Week, an initiative championed by Brake, the road safety charity, we take a moment to reflect on the importance of creating safer roads for all users. Each year, Road Safety Week provides an opportunity to raise awareness, share vital road safety messages, and honour those affected by road deaths and injuries.
From a transport planner's perspective, road safety is at the heart of our work. It is not just about addressing collision after they occur, but about infrastructure design, policy implementation, and behavioural change to prevent road harm in the first place.
Prioritising Vulnerable Road Users
When planning roads and highways, one of the most critical priorities is protecting the most vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. These groups often face higher risks in shared spaces, and effective planning can significantly reduce these dangers. To help mitigate these risks we adopt a policy-driven approach to the design of footways, crossings, cycle lanes, tactile paving, signage, and other infrastructure.
Evidence-Based Design
The best solutions to road safety challenges are those grounded in evidence. Transport planners rely heavily on data to identify high-risk areas and assess the effectiveness of different safety interventions. Personal Injury Collision (PIC) data plays a critical role in this process. By analysing where and why collisions occur, we can pinpoint specific locations that require attention. This may be due to poor visibility, road design flaws, or unsafe traffic speeds.
Once we have the data, we can make informed decisions. For example, improving visibility at key junctions or implementing Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) in areas with high collision rates can directly address the factors contributing to collisions. Evidence-based design ensures that safety improvements are targeted, effective, and responsive to real-world risks.
Designing for a Sustainable Future
As transport planning evolves, so too does the role of road safety in achieving broader societal goals, such as addressing climate change and promoting healthier lifestyles. In line with national and international climate targets, there has been a shift towards prioritising active travel, walking, cycling and public transport.
These shifts not only help reduce car dependency but also enhance road safety. With fewer cars on the road, traffic volumes decrease, lowering the number of potential collision points. Moreover, when people feel safer using alternative modes of transport, such as walking and cycling, it contributes to a healthier, more sustainable transportation network overall.
Our Role in Building Safer Roads
As transport planners, our responsibility is to think ahead, anticipate risks, and design systems where road safety is not an afterthought but an integral part of the planning process. Whether through innovative infrastructure improvements, data-driven policy implementation, or community engagement, our goal is to create a safe and sustainable transportation network for all.
If you would like to find out more about our transport services click here.
back