Road Safety Strategic Partnership Board - meeting minutes - 5 June 2024

Members

• Fiona Hyslop (Chair – until agenda item 4) - Cabinet Secretary for Transport
• Hugh Gillies (Chair) - Transport Scotland (TS) - Director of Roads
• George Henry (GH) - TS – Head of Roads Policy and Safety
• Gary Ritchie (GR) - Police Scotland
• Colin Park (CP) - Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS)

In Attendance

• Stewart Leggett (SL) - TS – Head of Operations
• Cathy Barlow (CB) - Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS)
• Oliver Harding (OH) - National Health Service (NHS)
• Hilary Sloan (HS) - Police Scotland
• Steven Feeney (SF) - TS – Head of Road Safety Policy
• Katrina Caldwell (KC) - TS – Statistics
• Michelle Van der stighelen (MVds) - TS – Safety Camera Programme

Apologies

• Robert Nicol - Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Iain Macleod - SFRS
• Graham Foster - NHS

Secretariat

• Ben McKenna (BM) – TS
• Kieren Green (KG) (Observing) - TS

Welcome and Introductions

The Cabinet Secretary welcomed the SPB members to the meeting, and proceeded with round the table introductions.

The interim reported road casualties report for 2023 was published on 29th May, although fatalities decreased, we are still not on track to achieve this target. There has been a 32% reduction on the trunk road network but an increase of 6% on the local road network for fatalities, when comparing 2023 to 2022. £36 million has been earmarked for road safety in 2024/25 which is a record level of funding. This includes a Road Safety Improvement Fund which will assist in contributing to reversing the increase of fatalities on the local road network. It is now more important than ever that partner organisations take personal responsibility to deliver initiatives for which they lead on and collectively do everything in our power to reduce this trend and get us back on track to meeting our ambitious targets.

Current Road Safety Performance 2023 and 2024

Police Management Information Data

The latest management information data was provided, highlighting that Police Scotland is continuing to monitor the analytical data to identify trends in activity and investigate how they can be prevented. Police Scotland continue to work with TS on emerging trends and threats.

High Level Update on 2030 Targets

An overview was provided on the four national targets and five mode & user specific targets:

• Target 1: Reduce fatalities by 50% - Not on track to meet
• Target 2: Reduce serious injuries by 50% - On track to meet
• Target 3: Reduce child fatalities by 60% - Not on track to meet
• Target 4: Reduce child serious injuries by 60% - Not on track to meet
• 40% reduction in pedestrian KSI - On track to meet
• 20% reduction in pedal cyclists KSI - On track to meet
• 30% reduction in motorcyclists KSI - On track to meet
• 20% reduction in 70+ KSI - On track to meet (significant increase in past 3 yrs)
• 70% reduction in 17-25 KSI - Not on track to meet

Cabinet Secretary noted that the Government’s commitment to reduce car kilometres by 20% may compliment the stats, should this be met. The board noted that with older road user KSIs increasing, this may be due to people living longer.

Cabinet Secretary highlighted that members provide leadership from the front, but it’s important how we articulate this appropriately, therefore invite TS Comms and PS Comms colleagues to attend future Board discussions.

Action: Arrange for a representative from TS Comms & PS Comms to attend future Board discussions.

Road Safety Summit Report

High level issues from the day included:

• LAs are requesting more powers on Moving Traffic Offences.
• That we write to UK Government on reserved matters, such as General Safety Regulations and Graduate Driving Licence (now known as Progressive Licencing Reform).
• Seat belt wearing is not an enforceable offence.
• LAs request that they have knowledge on future budgets.

It was agreed the report should be circulated to members for comment. It was also agreed that the Cabinet Secretary would write to her UKG counterpart post UK election and would raise appropriate aspects.

The Cabinet Secretary suggested that a Transport Bill, post 2026 is considered to address the issues raised at the Summit.

Action: Secretariat to circulate Road Safety Summit report to members to note and approve.

Action: Cabinet Secretary to raise with UK Government issues flowing from the Road Safety Summit.

Action: Consider Transport Bill for post 2026.

Updates from Board Members

Police Scotland

• Continue excellent relationship with TS.
• Road safety governance group continues to meet (chaired by ACC Ritchie).
• Tactical Options Working Group continues to meet.
• PS run a National Campaign calendar, noting they have the ability to change campaigns throughout the year to align with trends.
• Road Traffic Fatality Research – recruiting an analyst and TS committed to fund until 2030.
• Working on Delivery Plan for Roads Policing which reflects Annual Police Plan.
• HMICS is undertaking a thematic review into Roads Policing, with the report being published in Summer.
• Although collaboration between PS and TS is maintained, support continues to be required from partners to educate and reinforce messages.

SCOTS

• Most LAs are seeing an increase in casualties numbers and many continue with their prioritised AIP approach.
• Many LAs are involved in various educational proactive campaigns, building on national campaigns.
• Safe Systems Training and Manual is welcomed, with LAs already starting Safe Systems implementation.
• The Road Safety Improvement Fund is welcomed, although clarity of amounts and arrangements would be welcomed soon.
• LAs all progressing (at different stages) the 20mph Strategy.
• SOLACE has requested a survey on Pavement Parking Prohibition progress, with LAs progressing at different paces, based on available resources.
• Issue beginning to emerge in relation to condition of road infrastructure due to pressures on maintenance funding (e.g. road surface, signing and lining condition).
• Road safety remains a high priority across LAs, but funding, resources, and skills remain barriers to LAs effectively delivering on their road safety priorities.

SFRS

• Don’t have statutory duty for road safety, but focus on prevention and sharing & maximising resources amongst partners.
• Has 14 Local Safety Officers, and sit on all road safety framework governance groups.
• ‘Biker Down’ initiative continues to be delivered across Scotland.
• Noted there are synergies between road safety and fire safety, that older people & behaviours are having impacts on incidents.

NHS

• Continuing to work with Public Health, linking into operational and regional groups.
• Noted importance of TS liaising with Scottish Directors of Public Health Group.
• Highlighted the importance of referencing the ‘Burden of Disease’ study to note the impact road crashes have on casualties.
• Accident and emergency services requires funding, as data suggests under reporting in road casualty stats is an issue.

Given the above, Oliver would like to set up a meeting with George to discuss road safety’s impact on the NHS and identify ways to strengthen existing relationships.

The Cabinet Secretary thanks Board members for their leadership and commitment to the delivery of the framework. Given the way fatalities are tracking, the Cabinet Secretary will take the opportunity to discuss road safety with Justice, Local Government and Health colleagues in Parliament and Gail McGregor at CoSLA. Individual meetings will also be arrange for Board members in the near future, to discuss future progress. 

Action: Transport Scotland (George Henry) and NHS (Oliver Harding) to meet to discuss road safety’s impact on the NHS and identify ways to strengthen existing relationships.

Action: Cabinet Secretary to highlight road safety with Cabinet Secretary for Justice & Home Affairs, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government and Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Care along with Gail McGregor at CoSLA.

Action: Private Office to set up individual meetings with each Board member in the near future to discuss progress.

Previous Minutes and Actions

The minutes of the previous meeting, 7 November 2023 were agreed as an accurate record of discussion, all actions stemming from the last meeting have been completed or are covered within today's agenda.

HS provided an update to members on campaign statistics and analysed trends from previous years.

TS has allocated each of the recommendations contained in the Road Traffic Fatality Research document and will be discussed at the Operations Partnership Group the week after this meeting.

Members highlighted that drivers are not as risk averse since the pandemic, and it was agreed that GH and HS will meet to further discuss driver behaviour and analyse the stats we have on this. OH also noted that he has papers/research on this and will circulate to members.

Action Point: GH and HS to meet to discuss driver behaviour and analyse the stats we have on this.

Action Point: OH to send members paper/research on driver behaviour.

Updates from the Governance Groups

Activity Reports from OPG and LPFs

Activity reports from the OPG & LPF’s were provided in the papers and all minutes are published here.

GH noted that LPFs should monitor the progress against their casualties and this should inform RSIF measures. CP asked that the secretariat informs him of any local authorities that do not attend the LPFs and will raise through the SCOTS network.

SF suggested that the members of the SPB should be reviewed.

Action Point: LPF chairs/secretariats to notify CP of any local authorities that do not attend LPFs, and to raise through the SCOTS network.

Action Point: The Board to review membership when reviewing the Risk Register at the next meeting.

Knowledge, Data and Analysis

A detailed presentation was provided by KC on the Key Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2023 publication.

Areas of concern relating to the following were discussed:

• Casualties are over represented in 30mph and 60mph roads
• Age specific targets are doing less well, especially those aged over 70
• Active travel fatalities increased. Pedestrian fatalities increased from 34 to 47 and cycling fatalities increased from 2 to 7

Members highlighted the importance of sharing what is being delivered in these areas, and feeding messages from a national level to a local level, and vice versa.

Road Safety Scotland is renewing all their learning resources, and the Board queried if these are being utilised by partners.

Action Point: Secretariat to liaise with RSS to explore the extent to which education resources and Ziggy are being utilised and review how these are delivered.

Delivery Plan Progress and Commitments

Safety Camera Programme 2023/24

Enforcement Locations and Technology Types

A range of safety camera technologies were deployed at over 500 enforcement locations across the country.

Enforcement Hours – Performance vs Target

• Target national enforcement hours for fixed camera deployments totalled 393,782 hours. The actual number of enforcement hours for 2023/24 was 61% of the targeted level. The issues to not meeting these targets have been resolved or mitigated.
• Target enforcement hours for mobile camera deployments was 22,187 hours. The actual number of enforcement hours for 2023/24 was 70% of the target. This was due primarily to ongoing fleet issues and staff availability in the earlier part of the year.
• Target enforcement hours for mobile cameras during hours of darkness was 4,540 hours. The actual number of enforcement hours for 2023/24 was 63% of the targeted level. Target enforcement hours for mobile cameras during weekends was 5,513 hours. The actual number of enforcement hours for 2023/24 was 77% of the targeted level. 
• Looking ahead to 2024/25, it is expected that the proportion of enforcement hours against target will significantly improve across both mobile and fixed cameras, due to: resolution of long standing road marking issues and the progression to live operation of a range of new fixed sites; and the operational deployment of 14 new safety camera vans.

Site Prioritisation

6 new sites were identified as meeting the minimum criteria requirement. 119 sites had been identified as having had a sustained positive impact on driver behaviour for a number of years. These sites were therefore assessed as no longer a priority for camera deployment and a decision was made to place these into dormancy. 

Programme Plans for 2024/25

• Casualty Reduction Impact - The positive impact on road collisions is evident from a recent (October 2023) assessment which showed that over the last 3 year period approximately 76% of camera sites have led to a reduction in injury collisions.
• Site Prioritisation - The group noted this process is underway and yet to conclude its analysis of potential new sites which meet minimum site prioritisation criteria. This will involve analysis of approximately 4,000 potential sites. Outcomes are expected to be submitted in Q3 of 2024/25.
• Temporary Average Speed Camera Deployments During Summer 2024 - The group noted that plans are being progressed to deploy of two temporary ASC systems on key tourist routes across the country where there is expected to be a significant change in traffic volume and levels of speed limit compliance over the summer months. MV advised that the total capital cost of these deployments is £405k.

Members queried how we could deliver a large Scotland wide study on seat belt wearing. It was agreed that the Programme should liaise with ScORSA on this.

Delivery Plan - Progress and Development

An overview of the deliverables contained in the 2023/24 delivery plan that were red/amber as of 31 March 2024 were provided, and an update on the current position of each of these deliverables were provided.

Funding

Road Safety Improvement Fund

£9.5m was dedicated to the Road Safety Improvement Fund in 2023/24 to support local authorities to reduce casualties and risks on their roads through the implementation of Safe System measures.

While we currently can’t assess the impact on initiatives, an evaluation report for the RSIF 2023/24 is progressing and will include lessons learned, feedback from local authorities, case studies of projects completed and how projects aligned with the Safe System.

A RSIF is progressing for 2024/25 with an initial proposed budget of £10 million. We will be in touch in due course to update local authorities with the allocation when this has been confirmed.

Road Safety Framework Fund

GH updated members on the Safe System Training and Capacity Building project. Agilysis has been creating the wire frame to build a Safe System manual, investigating organisations and individuals knowledge of the Safe System and creating a framework to build upon. An e-learning primer, cultural maturity playbook and a data audit has been completed. If this project is positively evaluated we will be aiming to create a Safe System manual for all partners and road safety practitioners to use. This will be the first in the world, of its kind. The Board agreed to proceed with phase 2 of the project, if phase 1 is positively evaluated.

National Speed Management Review

The modelling for the Review is in the final stages before being presented for ministerial agreement. Thereafter a stakeholder and public consultation will be undertaken to consider their views on whether any changes to speed limit policies and speed management measures should be introduced as part of our speed management plan.

Risk Register

The Board agreed for the Road Safety Policy team to review the Risk Register and circulate to members for comment.

Action Point: SSCP to consider how we deliver a large Scotland wide study on seat belt wearing, liaise with ScORSA on this and report back to the Board.

Action Point: RSP to review the Risk Register and send to members for comment.

AOB and Next Meeting

The chair advised that the frequency of meetings should be revised in light of the significant increase in fatal casualties in 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023. The Board agreed for the OPG and SPB to meet 4 times per year. The June and November meetings will remain and there will be 2 additional meetings in the intervening period, to discuss what progress has been made from the last meeting. The Board will next meet in September and again before the end of the year.

Action Point: Secretariat to arrange the SPB meetings for the rest of the year.