According to the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership (SYSRP), 152 people were severely injured or killed across the county between November to December 2023, a major increase from previous figures.
Their ‘Return of the Dark Nights’ campaign has called attention to the increased risk of road incidents in winter, encouraging people to be extra vigilant on the roads due darker, wetter travelling conditions.
The organisation developed a winter checklist, advising pedestrians to wear brightly coloured and reflective clothes at night to increase their visibility.
Noah Platts, 32, a Road Safety Camera Manager at South Yorkshire Police, from Sheffield said: “I received news that one of my closest friends growing up was killed in a road traffic collision. It stuck with me throughout my early adult life, and so I decided to pivot into road safety.”
“Hopefully we can prevent the needless agony, grief and suffering connected with every road traffic collision,” he said.
The SYSRP consists of a wide group of public sector organisations, local authorities and emergency services who work collaboratively to implement road safety.
James Gibson, 52, the Executive Director of Road Safety GB, from Leicestershire said:
“We believe that further in the future by collective working, we will achieve less casualties. At the moment sadly people continue to die on the roads and that’s why I’m involved.”
Road Safety GB is a membership organisation and charity that works to decrease road incidents through campaigning and education.
“Ultimately we are all after the same thing. Whether you’re a politician involved in road safety or a school crossing patrol officer working on the front line, we all want our children to be able to get back from school safely,” he said.
Alongside pedestrian safety guidance, these organisations also implement guidelines for drivers, such as keeping lights clean, using screen wash and following the Highway Code rules.
Nicholas Lyes, Policy and Standards Director, 42, is the IAM Road Smart Charity Director of Policy and Standards, from Milton Keynes.
Mr Lyes said: “We know that when the clocks change during the colder months, the risks increase. Many parents worry about their kids’ safety.”
The charity provides unique driver training alongside their campaigning to prevent collisions.
“Drivers have a responsibility to slow down, remain alert and pay special care and attention when driving near schools,” said Mr Lyes.
Sheffield City Council are set to plan improvements in the areas of the city with the highest incident rates, including Burngreave, Grimesthorpe and Tinsley.
To find out more about keeping safe during the darker nights visit South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership, Road Safety GB and IAM RoadSmart.