Fewer people are getting injured or killed on Trafford’s roads as statistics show a gradual, overall decrease in collisions.
Figures on Trafford’s 516 miles of road and 743 miles of footpaths and cycleways have been revealed during Road Safety Week as Trafford Council moves ahead with Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and life changing injuries in the borough.
In 2024, the most recent figures available, 189 people were injured on Trafford roads including the M60. While this was slightly up on 2023’s 174, the total compared with 260 in 2015 and a nine-year high of 323 in 2017.
A vast majority of injuries were slight, suffered by people aged 16 to 59, and fatalities per year were in single figures.
While collisions have declined overall, car occupants are far more likely to be injured or killed than pedestrians or cyclists with those on public transport accounting for the fewest casualties.
The road, footpath and cycleway network is designed to connect people and places safely, with routes maintained by the Council and the One Trafford partnership, and improved where possible.
Recent work contributing to better safety statistics has included road repairs and resurfacing and improvements for pedestrians and cyclists such as upgraded junctions on Talbot Road in Stretford.
School Streets, involving closing roads around schools to vehicles at drop-off and pick-up times, road awareness sessions for children such as Bikeability and Crucial Crew have played a part.
Traffic calming measures and interventions on the A56 including a no-stoppind 'red route' have also been successful.
Trafford is signed up to Greater Manchester’s Vision Zero which advocates a Safe System approach to infrastructure, with people and vehicles interacting in a way that brings about a high level of safety.
The strategy focuses on minimal impact of collisions, saving lives and avoiding serious injury.
As well as roads, footpaths and cycleways, the Council looks after 297 highways structures, 70,000 gullies, 28,000 street lighting columns and 3,000 illuminated signs.
Cllr Stephen Adshead, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Highways, Environmental and Traded Services, said:
“During Road Safety Week my thoughts are with anyone who has been injured in a road collision, or worse, and their families and loved ones. Just one serious injury is one too many.
“We are pleased to be able to present these figures in Trafford but committed to eradicating serious injuries and deaths. Vision Zero is very much a work in progress – it is at the heart of every decision we make about our highways and how we maintain and improve them.”