A road safety emergency is to be declared in Liverpool as calls continue for further action to remove dangerous motorists from city streets. A motion has been laid down urging the authority to follow through on its pledge to improve safety on the roads, says Birkenhead News.

Six months ago, leaders backed a blueprint put forward by Better Streets for Liverpool in their campaign to change the culture around motoring. The group has made 10 requests to make active travel a safer and more secure experience for all.

At the time, Liverpool Council said it echoed many of the sentiments put forward, particularly for the most vulnerable road users. The Green Party group has now secured cross-party support for its motion calling for a formal road safety emergency to be declared across the city.

Better Streets for Liverpool is a community-led campaign calling for safe, healthy, people-friendly streets in Liverpool City Region (LCR). The movement is an affiliated group of Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking journeys.

With data indicating almost 800 serious injuries in Liverpool between 2022 and 2024, the group has made 10 requests to make active travel a safer and more secure experience for all. Only 2% of journeys across the wider LCR are currently cycled, while only 39% of people think it’s safe to get out on two wheels, according to the Walking and Cycling Index carried out by the WalkWheelCycle Trust last year.

Cllr Tom Crone, leader of the Green Party group, has laid down a fresh motion that has been adopted without debate.

“This city needs to start taking the issue of road safety seriously,” he said.

“Simple changes like slower traffic speeds and better enforcement can save lives, so why would we wait? Now the council has declared a road safety emergency I am hoping to see tangible improvements on road safety in the coming months.”

(Picture: Liverpool City Council)