Road Deaths Down by Quarter

10.48.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Oct 2004

North Area councillors last night approved plans for major investment in improving walking routes to Duncombe Primary School. The project is part of the Liberal Democrat Councils aim to improve road safety in Islington and part of their commitment to the Capital Safer Routes to School Programme.

Cllr Bridget Fox executive member for the environment said.

Making Islington's streets safer for our children is a priority for Bridget Fox

"Islington Council is working hard to reduce the number of casualties on the roads and has achieved a reduction of over a quarter on the number of people killed or seriously injured in the borough. By promoting schemes like this we hope to continue to see these improvements in road safety especially among children who are one of the most vulnerable groups.

"The entire project is part of the one Islington Vision promoting safe communities and making Islington a greener place to live. By making pedestrian access to the school safer we are encouraging people to use alternative transport rather than relying on their cars."

The plan is the result of a consultation with parents of children at Duncombe Primary School and will involve the following developments, a new zebra crossing on Marlborough Road junction, and a new junction table on Sussex way as well as general work on existing cycle and pedestrian routes.

Background

Since 2000 the number has fallen from 219 to 162 showing a 27% reduction.Last year the figures for those killed or seriously injured fell below both the national target of 186 and the council's public service agreement targets of 168 for the first time.Child safety has also dramatically increased. Figures from the first half of this year show that 3 children have been killed and/or seriously injured on borough roads. Although these are 3 too many this figure shows a 75% reduction from the figures for the first half of 2003.