The West Yorkshire Vision Zero Strategy was officially launched last summer.
According to the team behind Vision Zero, provisional figures show 40 people were killed and 1,277 were seriously injured on West Yorkshire’s roads during 2024.
In the previous year, 50 people were killed and 1,400 were seriously injured.
Dr Ian Greenwood, of Queensbury – whose 12-year-old daughter Alice died in a horrific car crash in 2008 – welcomed the fall in the number of people killed and seriously injured, but said the numbers “remain too high” and there is “so much more to do”.
Alice was just 12 when she died in a horrific car crash (Image: Submitted) He told the Telegraph & Argus: “We have come a very long way.
“Eight years ago, when I first asked local politicians to take road death seriously and do more, I received little or no support.
“Fast forward to 2025 and we have seen so much more activity focused on preventing road death and serious trauma injury.
“It is pleasing to see a reduction in both those killed and seriously injured on West Yorkshire’s roads.
“These numbers remain too high – they are our families, friends and from our communities, and the only answer is zero road deaths.
“Local people should expect to arrive home after travelling on West Yorkshire’s roads, and in 2024, 40 people didn’t. They were killed.
“There is so much more to do, but we are in a much better place to save more lives.”
‘Only acceptable number of road casualties is zero’
Over the last year, Vision Zero has delivered additional road safety education to 13,000 children across 83 schools in the area.
Meanwhile, 7,500 dangerous drivers were brought to justice with help from members of the public through Op Snap. Op Snap, run by West Yorkshire Police, allows the public to submit footage of dangerous driving.
From April 2024 to March this year, police officers issued 39,310 fixed penalty tickets for traffic offences, and safety cameras detected more than 279,000 speed and red-light offences.
And a new Independent Road Victim Advocate service has been launched to support victims of road crashes.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “A year ago we launched West Yorkshire Vision Zero – because the only acceptable number of road casualties is zero.
“Behind the statistics are real people with families and friends who are all deeply affected by each and every road death and serious injury.
“Our first year has seen some fantastic work, but there’s still a long way to go and we’re committed to building on this to keep everyone safe in our region.”
Alison Lowe, chair of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero board and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said: “There is no greater purpose than keeping people safe so we remain united behind Vision Zero.
“We don’t want anyone else to suffer the loss of a loved one or be seriously injured in completely avoidable circumstances.
“We’re on the right path but we need everyone to get behind Vision Zero to make it a reality, so please do your bit.”
Chief Inspector James Farrar, head of West Yorkshire Police’s roads policing unit, said: “As police officers we frequently see first-hand the devastating impact of preventable road traffic collisions.
“Behind every statistic is a grieving family or a person whose life has changed forever.
“That’s why we remain committed to educating road users to change behaviours and enforcing the law to take dangerous drivers off our roads.
“Using a combination of visible police patrols, safety camera technology, and engagement and education, we will continue to work to make West Yorkshire’s roads safer for everyone.”
Andy Shaw, road safety lead at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We remain committed to working towards our collective goal of preventing deaths and serious injuries on West Yorkshire’s roads.”
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “Road deaths and injuries are devastating for families.
“We must do all we can to prevent them.”
The strategy to get road deaths and serious injuries on West Yorkshire’s roads down to zero by 2040 focuses on the ‘safe system approach’ – safe roads, safe behaviours, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and an effective post-collision response.