Cycling and Walking Commissioner joins police road safety operation

West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner Adam Tranter joined police and Birmingham City Council colleagues on operations to deter dangerous driving.

The police operations, on Hagley Road and Belgrave Middleway in Birmingham, targeted motorists with unsafe vehicles or who were driving unsafelt, including drivers who pass cyclists too closely putting them in danger.

The high visibility operations follow a spate of serious and fatal collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians on West Midlands roads in recent weeks.

Police also inspected cars and took some off the roads.

Adam said: “We saw drivers with no insurance, we saw unsafe loads, we saw vehicles in horrendous condition. We don’t want to be sharing the roads with people who do not take safety seriously.”

Authorities are working together to improve road safety, particularly for vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists and will be taking further enforcement action over the days and weeks ahead.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The recent incidents in Birmingham over the last month that have led to four people being killed and a further four being seriously injured are truly shocking. The strength of feeling on the issue of road safety is clear to see - including from recent community protests and gatherings.

“That’s why we must work together as a team to take action now to keep vulnerable road users safe when they’re walking and cycling - by tackling the selfish and criminal behaviour that blights our communities.

“We cannot accept an environment where children walking or cycling are being killed. I have conveyed my determination to address this to all of us who have a part to play - including Birmingham City Council, Transport for West Midlands and the Chief Constable.

“I fully support the work my Cycling & Walking Commissioner - Adam Tranter - is undertaking in order to drive change. That change is urgently needed and, whilst of course we should set out proper plans, I am clear we need to act now. We must use the considerable tools and funding already available to us to bring about significant safety improvements for cyclists and pedestrians right across our region.”