Strategy to eradicate all road death and serious injury in West Yorkshire marks first year

11th August 2025

Strategy to eradicate all road death and serious injury in West Yorkshire marks first year

The last 12 months have seen tens of thousands of young people receive additional education, more dangerous drivers than ever before brought to justice and new support for victims.

These are just some of the achievements a year on from major organisations across the region uniting to end all road death and serious injury by 2040 through the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Strategy.

The anniversary is being marked with a free, family-friendly event in Millennium Square Leeds on Thursday 14th August which will include access to emergency service vehicles and interactive stalls.

The Vision Zero Strategy focuses on the safe system approach - safe roads, behaviours, speeds, vehicles and an effective post collision response.

Under each of these themes sit objectives for the short and longer term but at the strategy’s heart is the message that everyone has a responsibility to keep people safe on our roads, and we must all work together to create the lasting change needed.

Emergency services, local authorities, National Highways, victim support services and road safety campaigners are united behind the strategy.

Highlights from the strategy’s first year include:

• A new Independent Road Victim Advocate service being launched to support victims.
• 13,000 children, across 83 schools in the region being part of an innovative educational project.
•  7,500 dangerous drivers were brought to justice with help from members of the public through Op Snap.
• From April 2024 to March 2025 police officers on patrol in our communities issued 39,310 fixed penalty tickets for traffic offences, and safety cameras detected over 279,000 speed and red-light offences.
• Urging the Government to introduce lifesaving Graduated Driving Licences, backed by the families of victims of road death.
• Over 750 child car seats being assessed across 25 events, with a new set of free check events currently running. 

In 2023 50 people were killed and 1400 were seriously injured on West Yorkshire’s roads. Provisional figures for 2024 show 40 people were killed and 1277 were seriously injured, whilst there is much more to do, the reduction is positive.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “A year ago we launched West Yorkshire Vision Zero, because the only acceptable number of road casualties is zero.
 
“Behind the statistics are real people with families and friends who are all deeply affected by each and every road death and serious injury.
 
“Our first year has seen some fantastic work, but there’s still a long way to go and we’re committed to building on this to keep everyone safe in our region.”

Alison Lowe OBE, Chair of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Board and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said: “There is no greater purpose than keeping people safe so we remain united behind Vision Zero.

“We don’t want anyone else to suffer the loss of a loved one or be seriously injured in completely avoidable circumstances.

“We’re on the right path but we need everyone to get behind Vision Zero to make it a reality, so please do your bit.”

A Vision Zero road safety event now takes place every year. This year’s is in Leeds, running from 10am to 4pm and will include:

•  Access to a range of police and fire service emergency vehicles.
• An interactive and educational experience with a National Highways vehicle.
•  A reaction tester.
• Cycling support, including free bike marking to help keep your bike safe.
• An opportunity to share your views with consultation teams on road safety and local transport, helping to shape future plans.
• Plus a range of other fun, interactive, and educational activities.

Find out more about the event. 

Show your support for keeping everyone safe on our roads by signing the Vision Zero Pledge. You can also dedicate your pledge in someone’s memory.

Chief Inspector James Farrar, head of West Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “As police officers were frequently see firsthand the devasting impact of preventable road traffic collisions. 
 
“Behind every statistic is a grieving family or a person whose life has changed forever.  
 
“That’s why we remain committed to educating road users to change behaviours and enforcing the law to take dangerous drivers off our roads. 
 
“Using a combination of visible police patrols, safety camera technology and engagement and education we will continue to work to make West Yorkshire’s roads safer for everyone.” 

Andy Shaw, Road Safety Lead at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We’ve really valued our partnership with Vision Zero over the past year, making our roads safer through ongoing education and collaboration. Through youth interventions and community events - including car washes, tyre checks, school visits and RTC demos - we’ve engaged with hundreds of people across the region, raising awareness of the ‘Fatal Five’: speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, drink and drug driving, careless driving, and distractions. We remain committed to working towards our collective goal of preventing deaths and serious injuries on West Yorkshire’s roads.”

Deputy Leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said: "It's a significant moment for Leeds as we gather to mark a year since the West Yorkshire Vision Zero launch, and crucially, three years since Leeds began our ambitious journey towards zero road deaths by 2040. 

“In that time, we've worked tirelessly with our partners, pioneering initiatives amongst other the roll out 20mph zones around all our schools, providing vital road safety training to 40,000 children annually, and strategically installing average speed cameras across the city. These efforts demonstrate our unwavering commitment to reducing collisions and saving lives on our roads, bringing us closer to a safer Leeds for everyone."

Councillor Tyler Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Waste in Kirklees Council, said: "Kirklees Council are proud to be part of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Partnership. We want to play our part in the fantastic work already happening across the region to make sure there are no deaths or serious injury on our roads by 2040.

No one should have to experience the pain and devastation of a life lost or changed forever on our roads. It’s not just the council’s responsibility to make roads safe – it’s everyone’s. We are working hard alongside our emergency services, charities, volunteer organisations, neighbouring local authorities, and with local schools and drivers to get the message out and make our roads safer for everyone across West Yorkshire."

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cllr Tim Swift, said: “Any road casualty has devastating impacts across families and communities, and we take our responsibility to prevent people being injured on our roads incredibly seriously. 

“We’re proud to be part of the Vision Zero Partnership and over the last year our work has included efforts to educate and change attitudes, as well as using targeted enforcement and introducing new legal tools to tackle dangerous behaviours. We’ll continue to do all we can to make our roads safer, for everyone.”

Councillor Matthew Morley, Cabinet Member for Planning and Highways at Wakefield Council, said: “Vision Zero West Yorkshire represents our collective determination to put an end to serious injury and death on our roads. In Wakefield we’re continuing to push forward with our work to create safer roads and safer behaviours. As well as getting more businesses and residents to pledge their support to Vision Zero.”

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “Road deaths and injuries are devastating for families.  We must do all we can to prevent such accidents.  Bradford is pleased to have adopted the principles for Vision Zero and to have worked together with West Yorkshire Combined Authority during the last year seeking out areas of high risk and using all available resources both in the council and in our partner agencies to remove death and serious injury on Bradford’s network.”

Sheena Hague, Road Safety Director at National Highways, said: "Road safety is our number one priority, and our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads. 

"As road safety is a shared responsibility, it’s important we all recognise the part we can play and so we’re pleased to be working with local authorities and partner agencies to help prevent deaths and injuries on our roads."