Exasperated campaigners have called for a "state of emergency" to be declared in Birmingham after three people were killed and four injured on roads in the city in less than a week. Five fatal days in Birmingham has seen devastation on city roads in three separate incidents, with West Midlands Police speaking of "untold misery" for all the families involved.
On July 21, a man in his 60s was killed and another injured after being struck by a car at a bus stop on Great Hampton Street. On July 25, a woman was arrested after a pedestrian died and another was injured after a car crashed onto a pavement on a busy high street in Sutton Coldfield.
Just hours later, a man died and two others were injured in an horrific crash on the A45 Coventry Road. City campaign group Better Streets for Birmingham have written an open letter urging city and regional leaders to declare a state of emergency for road safety in Birmingham, saying it has reached a point where "those travelling in the UKs second city arent sure whether they will make it home alive."
READ MORE: People are dying on West Midlands streets - if we care, we have a funny way of showing it
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The letter calls for a "sustained effort from all of our city and region authorities to make reckless driving impossible", and lists 10 actions towards safer roads in Birmingham. The open letter reads: "A heart wrenching morning. Two more lives lost. Two more families grieving. Two more communities torn apart.
"Our love and solidarity go to everyone affected by these terrible, preventable tragedies. What will it take for our leaders to respond?"
The letter sets out 10 actions:
1. Declare a state of emergency for Birminghams roads, holding a press conference with each key partner detailing the changes they will make.
2. Make urgent changes to our streets, using temporary materials, that mean reckless driving physically cannot happen and enabling officers to act quickly.
3. Publish a timetable for the roll-out of average speed cameras and updated speed limits within Birmingham.
4. Hold quarterly Gold Command meetings until it is clear that the region is on-course for Vision Zero.
5. Establishing a clear owner for road police operations and bringing a progress report to the PCC at every Strategic Policing and Crime Board meeting
6. Further increase roads policing capacity so that there is always a unit working in each Local Policing Area (LPA) using capacity within Priority Crime Teams, and ensure that the Operation Snap team is sufficiently resourced.
7. Resource and upskill neighbourhood police teams and offering chances for PCSOs to learn how to process traffic offences within the roads harm reduction team, taking knowledge back to their neighbourhood team.
8. Use existing powers to suspend the licences of those arrested for dangerous driving offences, to ensure that they do not endanger other road users whilst awaiting trial.
9. Immediately begin recruiting the next Mayors Cycling and Walking Commissioner
10. Ensure the West Midlands Road Safety Action Plan has coordinated and full funding so that multi-agency delivery can start at the point of adoption, as well as strengthening action twelve to create 100 school streets across the region by 2028.
Better Streets for Birmingham will take to the streets again this weekend to demand an urgent crackdown on dangerous driving, with a planned protest on Saturday, July 27.
Timeline of fatal incidents in Birmingham
Great Hampton Street, July 21 - A man in his 60s died at the scene and another man was treated for minor injuries. The male pedestrian was pronounced dead when the vehicle careered off Great Hampton Street and onto the pavement on Sunday afternoon.
Stunned Great Hampton Street traders told BirminghamLive of their shock and terror. Police confirmed to BirminghamLive on July 26 that so far there were no arrests for the Great Hampton Street crash and that enquiries continue.
Boldmere Road in Sutton Coldfield, July 25 - A woman was arrested after a pedestrian died and another was injured in a crash on a busy high street in Sutton Coldfield. The crash happened on Boldmere Road, which is the area's High Street, last night, Thursday, July 25.
West Midlands Police said a woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remained in custody. Boldmere Road residents told us they were "in shock" after the incident, and called for better safety measures on the busy route.
Coventry Road, July 26 - A man, 18, died and two others were injured in an horrific crash on the A45 Coventry Road at 6am on Friday morning. West Midlands Ambulance Service crews were called to the junction with Kings Road in Yardley just after 6am today, Friday, July 26.
One dad-of-three and Yardley resident of 40 years told us: "We hear of too many incidents around these parts." More on that, here.
What have police said?
West Midlands Police put out a statement on Friday afternoon to reassure the public they are "fully investigating" all three tragedies. A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "In less than a week, weve seen three deaths on the roads of our region. Each is a tragedy, which has caused untold misery for families and loved ones.
"Our thoughts are with everyone impacted, and the public should rest assured that each and every one of these tragedies will be fully investigated. In the West Midlands, we have set the goal to reduce road death and serious injury to zero under Vision Zero.
"We are working with communities and partners and are aware of their entirely understandable concern. Our partnership sees us work with local councils, charities the West Midlands Combined Authority and others to achieve safer roads for everyone. Our proactive approach involves focused operations in key areas, tackling the fatal four and preventing harm to the most vulnerable road users. "
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