By Louis Marlow

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin has launched a ‘vision zero’ road safety drive which aims to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2040.

Mayor Brabin said: “Road safety is a top concern for West Yorkshire residents. Each and every road death is a tragedy, and we are working with partners to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

“This week is Global Road Safety Week and I’m urging everybody to consider how they can be safer when travelling round our region.”

Vision Zero works across all five districts of West Yorkshire – including Kirklees – and aims to reduce all road deaths and serious injury to zero by 2040.

To mark Global Road Safety Week the mayor has highlighted her financial contributions to a number of road safety schemes in West Yorkshire.

One of the groups awarded funding to help tackle accidents is Brake, a Huddersfield-based charity which supports families bereaved or seriously injured in road crashes.

The charity has received £20,000 in funding to support victims. This includes ensuring an information pack is given to all road victims and their families.

Over the past 12 months, West Yorkshire Police’s family liaison officers have received over 500 packs, which include serious injury guides, books for children and family bereavement support.

An open letter from Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin on her second anniversary

A spokesperson for Brake said: “It is a sad fact that so many families are affected by road death and serious injuries and therefore they need the National Road Victim Service to help them through the hardest of times.

“Thankfully our amazing team of caseworkers are there to provide road victims with practical and emotional support to help them navigate the many challenges they face following trauma.

“In West Yorkshire we are proud to be included in Vision Zero consultations, representing post-crash support. Our team have supported 40 families in West Yorkshire in the last 12 months, following road death and injury.

“We are grateful for the mayor’s commitment to achieving safer roads and high standards of post-crash support, through this funding, and we will continue to campaign until the roads are safe for everyone.”

West Yorkshire Police has also been granted over £500,000 towards tackling uninsured drivers, drink and drug driving and removing unroadworthy vehicles.

Insp Claire Patterson, head of roads policing at West Yorkshire Police, said: “Our officers unfortunately have to deal with the aftermath of road traffic collisions on a daily basis and see the real-life impact on offenders, victims and their families when road users are seriously injured as a result of people driving dangerously on our roads.

“We are committed through education and enforcement to make the roads of West Yorkshire safer by working with our communities and working in partnership with local authorities and other organisations.”