Independent research into local road safety, commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT), has revealed concern over staff and funding cuts, data analysis and co-ordination between groups working in key areas.****

The three-year project, carried out by AECOM in association with the Tavistock Institute, also found a shift towards route- and area-based treatments, and increasing consideration of specific groups such as motorcyclists, through targeted interventions.

The report states that ‘staff reductions and restructuring are leading to the loss of established core functions and skills, and management input’.

It warns: ‘Staff turnover and a lack of succession planning continue to be central threats to effective delivery.’

Road Safety minister Mike Penning said: ‘We hope the report will be of interest to local authorities who are responsible for decisions on local road safety delivery and evaluation.’

Mr Penning said he realised there would be ‘difficult funding decisions’ at local level but expected road safety to remain a ‘priority’ for local authorities.

AECOM’s regional director for transportation, Richard Redfern, said: ‘The evaluation demonstrated that road safety is a complex matter that requires the involvement of numerous agencies, such as the police, fire and rescue services, the Highways Agency, health authorities and other stakeholders.’

Data analysis concerns were raised over the ‘heavy reliance on external or centralised support’, a lack of ‘awareness and expertise in evaluation methodologies and their value’ and the ‘limited capacity to design and undertake a robust evaluation programme’ in local authority education, training and publicity teams.

The report also found the dispersal of road safety activities across regions and departments can lead to lack of co-ordination – in road safety interventions for school-age children, for example.

A spokesperson for London Councils, the umbrella group representing the capital’s authorities, said: ‘Boroughs will continue to work closely with the Mayor of London on the new regional road safety plan for the capital which is currently being drawn up.’