THERE were a total of 719 casualties on Barnsley roads last year  prompting warnings to road users to take more care in a bid to save lives.
Figures released by South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership show that of those incidents, 160 were killed or seriously injured which is up 39 per cent compared with the previous 12 months.
The remaining 559 were deemed as ‘slight’. The total number of casualties is down 6.4 per cent on the previous year. Of the people who were killed or seriously injured, 30 were aged between 0 and 16, and 75 were between 25 and 59.
The majority of casualties were injured by a car.
Across the region, the overall number of collisions is down, and the number of casualties reported has dropped below 4,000 for the first time.
But the number of people seriously injured has seen a significant increase.
The number of fatalities on the road has increased slightly.
Supt Simon Wanless, chairman of SYSRP, said: “While we are concerned about the increase in these numbers, we are confident that the figures are more reflective of the reality in South Yorkshire, and give us better information to help target and improve the effectiveness of our education and enforcement activities.”
Ch Insp Russell Hughes, who leads the South Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group, said, “When serious collisions occur my team are always on scene, and there are certain contributing factors, often illegal behaviours, that we see time and time again.
“The police have always had powers to enforce road traffic laws but a recent change in legislation, around drug driving and increases to penalties for the use of a mobile phone whilst driving, has highlighted the dangers of these behaviours.
“In spite of this we continue to see people using their mobile phones while driving and my officers have also been using their roadside testing kits on drivers they suspect are under the influence of drugs.
“We cannot stress enough how dangerous these driving behaviours are. Being involved in a crash because you are distracted, or in an unfit state to drive, will have lasting, maybe even fatal, consequences for you, your family and the others involved.”
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership aims to reduce the number of people injured in road traffic collisions and make roads safer. It is made up of the four South Yorkshire councils, Highways England, South Yorkshire Police and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, amongst other bodies.
Joanne Wehrle, the partnership’s safer roads manager, said “Our road safety team works countywide to educate people and give them the skills to become safer road users.
“The data and anecdotal feedback from the police and the community makes it clear that we still have a great deal of work to do.
“Road users can do a lot to help and protect themselves by abiding by some key rules; drivers can ensure that they drive to the conditions of the road and don’t speed, never use a phone while at the wheel, don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and always ensure that they and their passengers wear a seatbelt.”
