Lib Dem councillors are calling for the Council to put more effort into improving road safety in Haringey after two separate statistics showed Haringey to be failing in reducing pedestrian road casualties in the borough.

Figures published in the Council’s best value performance plan last month showed the council failed to meet its road safety target for both serious and minor injuries to pedestrians last year (see notes). Statistics were also released by the Council, following a question from the Lib Dems, which showed that despite efforts, the Council is failing to reduce pedestrian casualties amongst children.

Lib Dem leader Ross Laird says that there is a need for imagination to be used by the Council in its approach to the issue of road safety. In the past the Lib Dems have put forward proposals for more innovative ways to improve road safety and more recently have supported schemes that have involved local residents in initiatives to stop rat running around schools.

Cllr Laird comments:

“The figures are very worrying, pedestrian casualties are above the London average and since 1998 there seems to have been no improvement in casualties of pedestrians under 16. The Council needs to look at new approaches to dealing with this issue immediately.

“Rat running is a serious problem in the borough and we need to look beyond plonking speed humps in every road in Haringey. There are plenty of new innovations such as interactive speed signs that have had a positive affect in other parts of the country.

“If the Council is serious about dealing with this problem it must start looking beyond the borough for inspiration.”