Background information

Leeds Safer Roads Vision Zero 2040 strategy

Since 2000, the number of people injured or killed on roads in Leeds has fallen significantly. In recent years, though, the decline has levelled off.

The number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads in Leeds increased in 2022 following a reduction during the Covid pandemic, and a period of relative stability in the preceding years. 27 people were killed and 529 were seriously injured in collisions in 2022, and this exceeds the average for 2017-19 (21).

 Road crashes typically involved cars and other motor vehicles, but over half of the victims who were killed or seriously injured were on foot, on a bike, or riding a motorbike. 

 The Leeds Safer Roads Vision Zero 2040 strategy, adopted in September 2022, is our plan to eliminate fatal and the most serious road injuries from our city.  

The strategy was developed by the Leeds Safer Roads Partnership. This is led by Leeds City Council. Partners include West Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and National Highways. 

We will use a 'Safe System' approach to achieve Vision Zero. This considers the wider context of road safety. It makes the whole traffic system safer. While all road users should behave safely, considerately and legally, those who plan and manage the transport system are also responsible for safety. This means that we need to design safer roads, enforce speeds and improve vehicle safety, for example. 

Five ‘pillars’ underpin this Safe System for Leeds. They are:

1. Safe Behaviours and People
2. Safe Speeds
3. Safe Roads
4. Safe Vehicles
5. Post-collision Learning and Care

The Vision Zero Pledge was launched alongside the strategy and asks members of the public, and organisations, to sign and make a commitment to improve road safety.

Vision Zero Pledge

The pledge asks you to make a personal commitment such as driving at appropriate speeds for the conditions, giving road users enough space when passing, submitting dashcam footage to the police or maintaining your vehicle for example.