Council Praised for Reduction in Road Accidents

7.36.00pm GMT Wed 24th Jan 2007

A good record in reducing road accidents and encouraging more people to use buses has placed Milton Keynes Council on the road to success, according to a government transport review.

Milton Keynes is one of the UK's leading authorities in attracting more people to use bus services, having boosted bus passengers by 12 per cent since 2001 and cut road accidents by 35%.

This success story was recognised in a government review that described the transport network across the Borough as 'good'.

Former Undersecretary of State for Transport, Charlotte Atkins, recently praised Milton Keynes at a national bus conference for the growth in bus passengers at a time when many local authorities are seeing a decline in bus usage.

The introduction of "quality bus routes" - an investment programme to improve bus routes - was one reason for the growth in passengers. On these routes bus usage has been boosted by up to 30 per cent.

Examples of road safety actions that have led to the reduction in accidents include closing off dangerous gaps in the central reservations of dual carriageways such as those at Furzton and reducing cars on the school run by encouraging children to walk to school.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Williams, cabinet member responsible for transport, is delighted that the Council had been recognised for its work in improving the transport network over the past five years.

He said: "We have made giant steps improving transport links across the Borough and we know that the next five years will be a challenging time for us as Milton Keynes continues to grow. I am sure we will continue to build on the successes we have achieved so far."