Road Deaths Continue to Devastate West Midlands Families, Safety Commissioner Warns

Road Deaths Continue to Devastate West Midlands Families, Safety Commissioner Warns

People across the West Midlands have been urged to remember the families torn apart by road deaths, following the release of new data highlighting increased pedestrian fatalities in the region.

West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner Mat MacDonald presented the latest figures to the Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee, revealing the number of people killed or seriously injured on local streets.

Pedestrian Fatalities Reach Alarming Levels

While overall KSI numbers have decreased in recent years, Mr MacDonald stressed that the figures remain unacceptably high. Of particular concern are pedestrian fatalities, which accounted for 21 of the 50 total deaths in 2025 – representing almost half of all road fatalities.

"They do represent a completely unacceptable proportion of pedestrian fatalities amongst the mix of those killed or seriously injured on our road network," Mr MacDonald stated. "Obviously, it bears remembering that behind each of these numbers is an avoidable tragedy which has torn apart the lives of family, friends and communities."

Nationally, pedestrian fatalities typically make up around 25% of KSIs. While the West Midlands was near this average in 2022, the proportion has risen significantly in the last two years.

Investigating Causes and Identifying Problem Areas

Authorities are conducting detailed investigations into the causes of these deaths, examining:

• Specific locations where incidents occur
• The suitability of pedestrian crossing facilities
• Road infrastructure issues contributing to accidents

Investigators have identified 20 clusters where two or more pedestrians have been killed in the same location. Three-quarters of these clusters are in Birmingham, with none identified in Dudley.

Overall KSI numbers showed some improvement in 2025, with 1,078 incidents compared to 1,157 in 2024. However, Mr MacDonald emphasized that much more work is needed to address the ongoing crisis.

Multi-Faceted Approach to Road Safety

The Road Safety Commissioner outlined several initiatives being implemented across the region:

1. Average Speed Enforcement (ASE): Proven to reduce personal injury collisions by 39% where installed, though less applicable on smaller roads
2. Driver Education Programs: Improving awareness and behavior behind the wheel
3. Infrastructure Improvements: Enhancing road layouts and pedestrian facilities
4. Fatal Collision Review Panels: Established in 2024 to examine severe collisions and identify infrastructure causes

"It's a really useful exercise and will contribute to the picture we're building about better understanding the risks that pedestrians face as they get about day to day," Mr MacDonald explained.

Long-Term Vision for Safer Streets

The region is developing a speed management protocol in partnership with Agilysis, aligned with the Regional Road Safety Action Plan. A longer-term objective focuses on creating "healthy streets" through:

• Road layout changes that deter speeding
• Development of safer driver habits
• Creation of streetscapes encouraging walking and reduced car journeys
• Improved junctions and crossings – common sources of crashes and conflict

"We must be cautious to not over interpret this as a trend without us doing extra things to make sure we are properly protecting people as they travel," Mr MacDonald cautioned, emphasizing the ongoing need for comprehensive safety measures across the West Midlands road network.