Agenda item

To receive a briefing on Oxfordshire County Council’s Vison Zero policy for the elimination of deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collision in Oxfordshire by 2050.

The Scrutiny Panel considered a briefing paper as set out in the Agenda on Oxfordshire County Council’s ‘Vision Zero’ agreed policy which aimed to ‘eliminate all fatalities and severe injuries on Oxfordshire’s roads and streets, to have a safer, healthier, and more equitable mobility for all. Work closely with partners and stakeholders to take a whole system approach, working together on infrastructure, behaviour, technology and legislation to achieve this change’.

Paul Fermer, Director of Highways and Operations at Oxfordshire County Council presented the paper and highlighted areas where the Future Oxfordshire Partnership and through district councils could add value and assist in achieving Vision Zero,  including through committing to the Construction Logistics and Community Safety, (CLOCS)  and Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, (FORS), particularly with regard to their own or commissioned vehicle fleets and through the planning system including Local Plans.

In discussion, members of the Panel raised detailed questions and points relating to:

·           Clarification of what the contribution to Vision Zero would be from the Road Safety Strategy

·           Concern was expressed that Vison Zero had sought to allocate users of different modes of transport, (pedestrian, cyclists, motorists, public transport) in separate categories when this could not happen in practice.

·           More emphasis was needed on changing road user behaviour. The Panel was informed that there was activity such as road safety campaigns aimed at changing behaviour, balanced with other aspects of Vision. This would set out in the Vision Zero Strategy and Action Plan.

·           The amount of funding for Vision Zero in the current and 2024/2025 budget. The Panel was informed there was £4m of capital funding within the County Council’s programme profiled over three years for infrastructure safety improvements.

·           Plans to limit HGV, Coaches etc outside densely populated areas. The Panel was informed that support from district councils would be required to help achieve the CLOC standard and work to understand the issues was underway including with the University of Oxford.

·           It was important to recognise that given the predominately rural nature of Oxfordshire, Vision Zero and the need to reduce accidents was not confined to the City of Oxford or other built up areas because accidents were more likely to happen in rural areas. ‘Rat Running’ by freight HGVs was also a concern and it was felt that there were road safety improvements to roads such as the A4074 at relatively modest cost.

·           There should be due emphasis within Local Plans and Policies to Vision Zero.

After further discussion it was:

RESOLVED:

 1.   That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership request that Oxfordshire County Council provide a cost estimate of the implementation of the Vision Zero targets within the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.

2.    That in light of Vision Zero, the Future Oxfordshire Partnership request that Oxfordshire County Council place a higher priority on responding to planning applications to highlight where highways infrastructure from a development could be improved to improve the safety of vulnerable road users.

3.    That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership request that Oxfordshire County Council work with districts to coordinate the acceleration of the Mobility Hubs, Last Mile Delivery and Road to Rail workstreams with the objective of further reducing HGV traffic and associated risks to people though built up areas.

4.    That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership request that the district councils be encouraged to consider and submit additional requests to Oxfordshire County Council for the expansion of 20 mph zones within settlements, (potentially adopting the approach of the Welsh Government if legally permissible).

5.    That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership request that the district councils consider the specific adoption of Vision Zero and Construction Logistics and Community Safety, (CLOCS) standards generally and specifically within their Local Plans.

6.    That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership request that the district councils consider cooperating around the development of design guides which would incorporate Vision Zero and Construction Logistics and Community Safety, (CLOCS) principles for strategic developments to design out road danger and improve connectivity of places (e.g. layout of radii, type of kerbstones, guidance on grade separated crossings, underpasses etc).

7.    That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership request that the district councils consider Vision Zero, Construction Logistics and Community Safety (CLOCS), direct vision standards, and Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) principles in their approaches to the procurement of fleet or commissioned HGV vehicles.

8.    That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership request that the district councils proactively encourage developers of major sites within local areas to collaborate with one another on Construction Management Plans. It is noted that such collaboration, when it has taken place, has worked well and led to benefits for all parties.

9.    That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership request that in the context of Vision Zero, Thames Valley Police be written to and formally encouraged to accept evidence from vulnerable road users to inform its own highways safety enforcement.