Agenda item

Mr D Brazier (Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport), Ms H Chughtai (Director of Highways and Transportation), Ms N Floodgate (Road Safety and Active Travel Group Manager) and Mr M Bunting (Vision Zero Strategy Manager) were in attendance for this item.

1.    The Committee were provided with a report which updated Members on the progress made implementing ‘Vision Zero, The Road Safety Strategy for Kent 2021-2026,’ since its adoption in July 2021.

2.    Mr Brazier provided a verbal overview of the report and reminded the Committee that, whilst Vision Zero was a multinational road traffic safety initiative focused on casualty reduction, the KCC strategy was tailored to Kent ‘s unique highway challenges and interwove with KCC’s commitment to achieve Net Zero in the county by 2050.

3.    Ms Floodgate explained the different approach adopted by Vision Zero, comparing it to previous location focused casualty reduction strategies. She reminded Members of the Strategy’s five pillars: safe roads and streets; safe speed; safe behaviour; safe vehicles; and post collision response. She added that understanding where, when and how accidents were happening, coupled with improved data sets and a dashboard for damage only incidents allowed better decisions to be taken to prevent future road casualties.

4.    Mr Bunting further updated the Committee, which included confirmation that the Kent and Medway Casualty Reduction Partnership, which alongside KCC, included Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Medway Council and National Highways, had been bolstered to enhance shared responsibility and collaboration. Members were encouraged to become Vision Zero champions.

5.    In relation to section 3 of the report, a Member noted that the 2016-22 road casualty data indicated an upward trend in casualties, which had incorrectly been referred to as a downward trend.

6.    A Member commented that further engagement with partners was required to create a broader acceptance of 20mph zones and precipitate further decreases in road speed.

7.    Concerning the Vision Zero Strategy’s delivery of the Infrastructure for Communities priority, within Framing Kent’s Future, KCC’s Council Strategy for 2022-2026, a Member commented that decisions taken on other issues relating to Highways and Transport should take account of their impact on road safety. They asked that Members be provided with an update on how recent projects had impacted incident and casualty rates.

8.    Broad education on the benefits of high visibility clothing for active travel route users was encouraged by Members.

9.    Ms Floodgate confirmed, following a question from a Member, that accident hotspots were  reviewed annually, with remedial engineering and education delivered in response. She noted that small schemes were used on accident clusters, though non-engineered solutions were an important part of Vision Zero. She agreed to provide Members with a list of cluster sites across the county after the meeting.

10.Members emphasised the importance of the Strategy’s safe speed pillar and asked that roads near schools and popular active travel routes be prioritised for speed reduction schemes. The Chairman commented that congested roads around schools presented significant risks and danger to children. He asked that active travel be encouraged further to reduce congestion and improve health and wellbeing. A Member added that walking buses should be promoted to achieve the aspiration whilst also ensuring child safety.

11.Members welcomed further information on how road safety measures, including 20mph zones, with strong local support could be promoted, funded and implemented.

12.A Member asked whether average speed cameras could be used for enforcement and whether additional safety courses for car and motorbike users, beyond speed awareness courses, could be promoted to encourage safer driving.

13.Mr Brazier left the meeting. The Chairman shared his disappointment that the Cabinet Member had not made the Committee aware of his need to leave during consideration of the item and stated that it had inhibited the scrutiny process. 

14.The importance of speed limit enforcement was highlighted by a Member, who stressed that limits needed to be realistic and would only be fully effective if adequately enforced. The importance of quantifying the impact of school expansions on surrounding road network congestion was raised. 

15.A Member asked whether increases in the number of moped-borne food delivery drivers had impacted road safety.

16.The Chairman asked that written responses to the questions shared after the departure of the Cabinet Member be provided to the Committee following the meeting.

RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.

POST MEETING NOTE: The Committee were provided with the requested written answers to their questions.