The Government has now put comparative road safety stats on line. Click here.
The results show that the City had 27.8 casualties per 1000 population (pk) by 2011 – down from 39.8 pk in 2005.
Ironically the City which has gone furthest in introducing wide area 20 mph speed limits (Portsmouth), was still recording 39.8 casualties in 2011.
Proliferation of unnecessary speed limit signs is annoying drivers
The most dangerous place to travel in the Yorkshire area was Doncaster (46.02 pk).
The number of collisions (per 100 million vehicle miles) in York was 85.9. The comparative figures for North Yorkshire were 54.83 and Leeds 86.13.
York was spending £5.57 per 1000 residents in repairing roads by 2011. This compared to £7.13 being spent in the North Yorkshire area (which has a much larger length of roads).
Capital spend on road safety was £2587 per 1000 population. This compared to only £30.18 being spent in North Yorkshire. (capital expediture varies substantially from year to year)
Since 2011, of course, the York Council has cut its road maintenance budget by 1/3 while large amounts are being diverted into introducing a 20 mph speed limit.
At the budget Council meeting in February the Council announced further cuts including a £75,000 reduction in expenditure on road safety. The cut takes effect in 2014.
Residents will be looking anxiously at the 2012 figures when they are published on the government web site for any sign that the reduction in accidents, achieved in the previous few years, has stalled.
Pothole on Foxwood Lane (now fixed following a report via “my Council” see right)
Meanwhile the number of potholes on roads in the City continues to grow. The AA have recently published an independent survey of road conditions which reveals that Yorkshire has the worst road surfaces in the country.
The Council are obliged to repair unsafe roads. Defect reports can be made by clicking on one of the following web links.