This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.
Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
Chair
Environment, House and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel Morier House
Halkett Place
St Helier
Jersey
JE1 1DD
10 July 2024 Dear Chair,
RE: Road Safety Review and 2023 Road Traffic Collision and Casualty Update
Thank you very much for your letter of 3rd July 2024 regarding road safety and the Strategic Safety Unit's work.
I have addressed the five items that were set out in your letter below:
- Please could you outline how the Safe System Approach to Road Safety3 will be embedded in the Future Steps outlined in the Road Traffic Collision and Casualty Update4 and in projects which are already planned, such as those in St Saviour, Bagatelle, Castle Street, Route de la Libération, La Blinerie and the Western Gateway5.
The Collision and Casualty Reduction Plan has the Safe System at the heart of everything that we deliver. This enables us to raise awareness through projects and actions of how the system works to recognise that whilst humans make mistakes there are opportunities to reduce the severity of harm when these mistakes are made. Where there are specific trends in the collision and casualty data, we will draw on knowledge and expertise of specific officers and stakeholders to inform development and delivery of projects.
Infrastructure projects which are due to be delivered, will be required to meet engineering standards and follow the road safety audit policy. Infrastructure projects fall within the safe system element of safer roads (infrastructure build) and safer people (communication and consultation).
- What specific action will be taken to reduce fatalities on Jersey roads?
This is currently policy under development and more detail will be coming forward with the publication of the collision and casualty reduction plan. The initiatives identified in the Future Steps are only an indication of the work the Strategic Safety Unit wants to take forward. Further examples of projects that are currently in train are:
• Working with the States of Jersey Police to change legislation to identify specific drug limits in law and enable roadside drug testing (much like we do already with alcohol) to support enforcement of high-risk drivers or riders who use drugs and decide to drive.
• Working with tyre experts to deliver an initiative in Tyre Safety month (October) to scan Islanders' tyres to collect data to inform future work (Safe System element – Road Safety Management), but more importantly, as we head into Winter, to raise awareness of how important safe tyres are. This isn't just about tread depth but having the correct pressure and checking for damage to the tyre itself. They are the only 2, 3 or 4 points of contact any vehicle has on the road so are fundamental to reducing road risk for all users, which is the key message to deliver.
- How the Future Steps and forthcoming initiatives will be aligned with the delivery of the Sustainable Transport Policy Next Steps.
We are establishing a Road Safety Delivery Board, which will comprise officers across government to support delivery of projects and actions that will be identified within the Collision and Casualty Reduction Plan. This will include officers who have responsibility for the delivery of the Sustainable Transport Next Steps.
- What work will be done to promote shared responsibility and directly counter the negativity of different groups of road users, as often expressed on social media, and its potential to increase aggressive behaviour aimed at more vulnerable road users.
It is expected that as the Strategic Safety Unit develops, the number of communication campaigns that can be delivered across the island with support from key road user stakeholders will increase. This will raise awareness of what road safety actually means, what road risk refers to and the specific actions that can be taken for them to reduce their own risk as well as that of other road users.
This has already started with an internal blog published recently to all Government of Jersey employees which was calling on everyone to consider any road user as a person, rather than a "group of people" such as cyclists or drivers. This is the first step in changing a culture to one which supports the safe system. Road users humanise those around them, respect them and act accordingly.
It is also important that we raise awareness within the media of the narrative we want to base road safety and road risk discussions around, with terminology of reporting being incredibly powerful in the community to support respect of all road users by all road users. We will do this when opportunities arise and when there are specific key messages we want to disseminate through press releases and media briefings.
- When you intend to publish the Network Planning Guidelines referred to in the Sustainable Transport Policy Next Steps Delivery Plan.
Work has been undertaken to develop bus network planning guidelines. This seeks to develop a set of principles that can be used to inform decision-making about where and how the bus network is developed in the island.
This work has been put on hold while the tender process to select the island's bus operator contract continues. The new contract period will commence in April 2025.
Work to review and refine the guidelines will be undertaken with the preferred contractor before adoption and publication. The timetable for publication will become clearer as the work to establish the new contract progresses further.
I hope that I have provided all the information required but if there is any further information you require, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Yours sincerely
Connétable Andy Jehan
Minister for Infrastructure
19-21 Broad Street | St Helier | Jersey | JE2 3RR |