Residents living along Yardley Wood Road in Birmingham have expressed deep concerns over what they perceive as increasingly perilous road conditions, fearing for the safety of their children and elderly due to reckless driving and inadequate traffic management measures.
Organised by the campaign group Better Streets for Birmingham, a demonstration is set to take place at the junction of Yardley Wood Road and Wake Green Road this Saturday, April 20th, at 2:30 pm. The event aims to draw attention to what locals describe as the “daily dangers” posed by antisocial driving behaviours.
According to a concerned resident, the recent surge in dangerous traffic conditions has become a pressing issue for the community. “The safety of our residents, especially our children and elderly, is at stake due to excessive speeding and lack of appropriate traffic management measures,” the resident stated, echoing the sentiments shared by many in the area.
Another resident and member of Better Streets for Birmingham emphasised the urgent need for measures to curb speeding and antisocial driving. “Residents, school children and other road users shouldn’t be living in fear of walking along pavements and attempting to cross Yardley Wood Rd,” the resident remarked. They stressed the importance of reducing opportunities for speeding and restoring calm to the streets through effective traffic management.
Residing directly on Yardley Wood Road, one resident highlighted the frequency of recent incidents, attributing them to avoidable factors such as excessive speed. “There have been four incidents within the last few days,” the resident disclosed, underlining the preventable nature of these incidents and the role of speeding vehicles.
Better Streets for Birmingham has been at the forefront of advocating for road safety measures across the city, responding to incidents resulting in fatalities or serious injuries. The Vice-Chair of the organisation underscored the need for traffic calming measures to address the alarming trend of road incidents. “We are gathering on Wake Green Road on Saturday 20th April as part of the Safe Streets Now day of action,” they announced, urging stakeholders to collaborate in creating safer streets for all road users.
The national day of action, slated to unfold across various locations in the country, will feature a range of initiatives aimed at promoting road safety and advocating for legislative measures to prevent accidents. From banner drops to vigils and protected bike rides for children, the event seeks to raise awareness and mobilise support for safer streets.
The call for action on road safety is underpinned by stark statistics. In 2022 alone, 28,031 people were seriously injured and 1,711 were killed on UK roads. Birmingham, in particular, witnesses an average of 25 road fatalities annually, highlighting the urgency of implementing effective measures to mitigate risks and prevent further tragedies.
As concerns over road safety continue to mount, residents and campaigners alike are urging authorities to prioritise measures aimed at curbing speeding and promoting safer streets for all. With the rallying cry for “peace, space, and justice,” the voices advocating for road safety in Birmingham are resolute in their demand for immediate action to avert potential accidents and safeguard lives.
