The Department of Transport yesterday (Wednesday, June 13) announced the projects that had successfully bid for money from the Road Safety Fund. They include four from Devon and Cornwall, where £7.2m will be spent.
In addition the DfT said police forces would be equipped with the next generation of mobile breathalysers and announced a new partnership with the RAC Foundation to trial an innovative approach to accident investigation.
Alison leads on road safety for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and has become increasingly concerned about the number of deaths and serious accidents around the UK and in her region.
There were 52 fatalities on Devon and Cornwall’s roads and 772 people seriously injured in collisions in 2016, the latest year for which verified data is available, and last year there were a number of particularly tragic accidents in the summer months.
“We simply have to do more to reduce the number of lives affected by road death and injury,” Alison said.
“I am delighted that at last some progress is being made, and the government is taking this issue seriously, but there’s still much more to be done.
“I will continue to do whatever I can to support increased road safety in Devon and Cornwall by partnering with local authorities and continuing to raise our concerns at a national level.
“The setting up of a national road safety task force, with Police and Crime Commissioners taking the lead for road safety strategy, would help enormously in turning strategy into real improvements that would reduce the number of needless and tragic accidents which have blighted our roads.”
In Devon £1.9m will be spent on the project to improve the A3121 and £2.2m will be spent on the A3123 at Mullacott Cross. In Cornwall £1.1m will be spent on the A3058 at Quintrell Downs and £1.9m will improve the A3071 St Just junction with the A30.