It's been 125 days since the road safety emergency was announced

Thank you, Lord Mayor,

When I was asked to take part in this enquiry, I was pleased to accept, even though I am not on the Transport scrutiny committee. 

I would like to thank Cllr David Barker for conducting a very thorough inclusive enquiry, Cllr’s Parkin and Zafar for their valuable input, the community groups, organisations and officers who gave us their time and answered our many questions and especially the officers for their hard work and diligence in bringing it all together. 

Road Safety is something I feel strongly about, and it was good to be able to use my knowledge and experience to help shape the recommendations. 

There is an account on Twitter / X called ‘Birmingham’s Road Safety Emergency’. It posts every day how many days have passed since Cllr Mahmood and Bham City Council declared a road safety emergency. Today is day 125.

That account sums up the impatience of many people across this city who have been campaigning for safer streets, not just for 125 days but for months and in many cases years.

When listening to the campaigners who gave evidence to the enquiry, their frustration was clear. Every day of waiting is another day with a high chance of a life avoidably lost or changed for ever on our roads. We must not forget the impassioned plea in this chamber just three months ago of Babiker Yahia, father of four year old Mayar who lost her life in Highgate in April.

It was no surprise when asked to give a score out of ten of how empowered they felt to make change, the average was 3 and no score higher than 5. I think they were being generous.

Notwithstanding the human cost to individual families and communities the £444 million cost of road harm in the West Midlands in 2023 alone, should make us sit up and take notice.

I challenge any member here that speeding, racing and dangerous driving, reckless and irresponsible parking on pavements and outside schools, red light running & noisy exhausts aren’t a regular part of their casework inbox. 

Yet, a police speeding operation or a council enforcement visit to a school are events so rare when they do happen it makes topic of the day on the local Facebook pages. 

Whilst the police are not measured on road harm reduction and the council has no idea of revenue it receives from parking enforcement it is very difficult to see what will change. 

That was why I was pleased to include recommendations for the PCC and Chief Constable to be asked to expand remit and resources of police traffic officers and neighbourhood teams to work with council officers to target individuals who cause the most harm on our roads and for the council to re-introduce the annual parking report, the last one having been published in 2019.

My aim in taking part in this enquiry, which I am sure was shared by my colleagues, was to produce a report that not only helps to expose the issues that need addressing, but makes recommendations of steps that can turn into real action, make our communities safer and more pleasant places to live.