York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith has launched the region’s first ever Road Safety Month as an ambitious, region-wide campaign aimed at raising awareness, engaging with the public and reducing serious injuries and fatalities on local roads.
Led by the Mayor, alongside the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership, the campaign will feature a mix of education, and engagement activities across the region.
The campaign is designed to encourage safer behaviour among all road users, from drivers and cyclists to pedestrians and motorcyclists.
The Mayor kicked off the month by showing his support for improving active travel safety and introducing 20mph zones outside every school in York and North Yorkshire, part of his vision to provide safe spaces for all across our region and make our region’s roads safe for all who use them.
As part of their engagement priorities, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime will be attending a number of events across York and North Yorkshire:
- July 3: VirtualAdvice Surgeries will be held between Deputy Mayor Jo Coles and local Town and Parish Councils, in order to help the Combined Authority understand their concerns regarding road safety in their local area.
- July 8: The Great Yorkshire Show, where the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership will engage thousands of attendees with important safety messages
- July 15: Online Public Meeting, where Deputy Mayor Jo Coles will be speaking live with North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service on the issue of road safety, culminating in a Q&A session with public questions.
The Road Safety Partnership
The York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership is a group of local councils, emergency services, health teams, and other organisations. They work together to make York and North Yorkshire’s roads safer for everyone, including drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The partnership’s goal is to work towards Vision Zero, the aim of eliminating preventable fatalities from our roads.
This goal will be achieved by coordinated and evidence-based education, engagement, engineering and enforcement activity, targeted at reducing the ‘fatal five’:
- Inappropriate or excessive speed
- Not wearing a seat belt
- Driver distractions
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Careless and inconsiderate driving
The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority helps the partnership by supporting road safety plans, funding projects, and making sure safety is a key part of transport planning across the region. Key advice for all road users can be found by visiting the partnership website.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire said:
“One death is one too many. We must make York and North Yorkshire’s streets safer, and I am determined to push towards Vision Zero, to stop these preventable deaths.
“This week we start a new chapter with our region’s first-ever Road Safety Month, when we will take direct action.
“That is why I will champion the introduction of 20 mph zones outside every school in the region, because parents shouldn’t feel scared to let their children walk or cycle to school. There are also too many villages torn in two by a road of speeding traffic.
“It’s time to tackle these issues and so many more. However you travel, it’s time that you and your loved ones deserve to be safe and feel safe.”
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime said:
“44 people died on our roads in York and North Yorkshire in 2023. Whether you’re a pedestrian, driver, cyclist or rider we want to deliver safer roads in our region because one death on our roads is devastating and is one death too many.
“As well as providing advice, Road Safety Month is about learning from our communities, understanding their experience and what the Mayor David Skaith and I can do to address concerns.”