Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
The Road Safety Foundation publishes road safety statistics from the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP) for Great Britain every autumn. The latest statistics on the safety of Britain’s roads has been published today (external link).
The research examines fatal and serious crashes on the British network with this year's results comparing crash data for the period 2002-2006 with 2007-2011. The findings will highlight the continuing improvement in risk across Britain and the good progress being made by road authorities in reducing crashes through engineering, enforcement and education, as well as identifying the highest risk road by region.
The report records that the level of risk in Wales has reduced by 11% when comparing collisions which resulted in fatal and serious injuries in 2002-06 and 2007-11. The 11% fall in risk puts Wales as the slowest improving region during the survey period. The report also records that the highest risk road in Wales is 38km of the A44 from Llangurig to Aberystwyth.
The data published by EuroRAP is up to the end of 2011. We are using more up to date collision statistics to develop collision rates for the trunk road network, which will help inform priorities for safety improvements on lengths of the trunk road network.
A number of road safety improvements schemes have been implemented at locations with poor collision history along the A44 since 2011 and a safety scheme is to be implemented this financial year at a 250m long series of bends 15 miles east of Aberystwyth, which will enhance signing and road markings and provide high friction surfacing on the approach to bends. In addition, speed enforcement is undertaken via a Go Safe mobile camera van at one site on the route.
The Welsh Government is committed to improving road safety and reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on Welsh roads. In July 2013 the Road Safety Framework was published, setting out the Welsh Government’s vision for a continued reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured on Welsh roads, with the ultimate aspiration of no fatalities. The framework includes a specific target on reducing the number of killed and seriously injured motorcyclists by 25% by 2020.