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Borough’s roads top Welsh chart for cutting fatalities

THE NUMBER of people killed or seriously injured on roads in Caerphilly County Borough has dramatically reduced according to figures released by the Welsh Assembly’s Department of Transport.

Four Gwent local authority areas ranked top in Wales for achieving the highest reductions.

Caerphilly came in eight highest in Wales with a reduction of 49%.

Monmouthshire topped the chart with 79%, and Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent were joint third with a reduction of 60%.

Overall, the number of people killed or seriously injured on Gwent roads has reduced by 65% – exceeding, ahead of time, the Welsh Assembly’s 10-year target of a 40% reduction by the end of 2010.

The number of road traffic collisions resulting in slight injury also dropped by 40%.

Gwent Police’s Roads Policing Chief Inspector, John Pavett, said: “These statistics reflect the hard work of the road safety partnerships operating in the area as well as the responsible attitudes of many of the motorists using local roads – it really is a team effort.

“The reduction can be attributed to a number of things including enforcement, through our police operations and our various road safety campaigns, education, improved road engineering and vehicle design.

“Although success has been achieved in these areas, just one fatality on our roads is one too many.

“Most of the initiatives undertaken in Gwent are designed to have long-term results and together with diligence and support from the public, I hope that this downward trend is set to continue.”

Jim Moore, manager of Go Safe – the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, said: “These figures are extremely encouraging and show that road safety initiatives are working.

“Overall collisions at camera sites have reduced significantly since their introduction.

“We hope that every time motorists see a safety camera they will spare a thought for the lives they have saved and stick to a safe and legal speed for the rest of their journey.”