Number of people injured on Walsall roads halves in five years
The number of people injured on roads across Walsall has almost halved within five years, figures have revealed.
There were 1,038 collisions where injuries were occurred in 2008 which was cut to 530 around the borough in 2013.
Steps have been taken to reduce accidents in Walsall with 20mph zones and speed warning Watchman signs aimed at cutting motorist speeds.
A report from transport chiefs to councillors said a new road safety plan is now being developed. It will aim to help further reduce casualties.
Statistics show there were three fatalities, 64 serious injuries and 464 collisions where people were slightly hurt in 2013.
There has been a decrease in casualties year on year since 2008, where there were eight deaths and 97 serious injuries.
The report from head of engineering and transportation, Steve Pretty, said: "The total number of casualties across all severity groups has consistently reduced year on year since 2008 and is currently at its lowest level since records began.
"However, despite this improvement, there remain in excess of 500 casualties involved in road traffic collisions every year in the borough.
"The traffic safety and operation team undertakes a detailed annual review of all personal injury collisions occurring across the borough and implements a range of work programmes to improve the network and reduce collisions."
The Watchman signs have been used in a bid to slow down drivers on major routes on Broadway, Sutton Road and Northgate in Aldridge.
They can flash up a drivers' registration number or the speed limit of the road and there are proposals to introduce another one along Birmingham Road, which runs between Walsall town centre and Great Barr.
It is part of an overall £180,000 package of improvements along Birmingham Road and Caldmore Road.
The 20mph speed limits has been used in some residential areas around the borough.
A pedestrian struck at 20mph has a 97 per cent chance of survival which falls to 80 per cent at 30mph and 50 per cent at 35mph, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Mr Pretty added: "The implementation of these measures has involved extensive public consultation along with a complementary education campaign prior to introducing them.
"The success of the initial pilot areas is currently being evaluated and it is hoped to report the outcomes of this work as part of the future road safety strategy."
