Yorkshire Champions Safer Drivers scheme set to launch

The Yorkshire Champions Safer Drivers scheme will launch in Bradford soon.

Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West, will be an ambassador for the initiative, which will campaign to encourage motorists to make more responsible choices behind the wheel and promote safer driving habits throughout the district.

It also has the backing of Jonathan Durham Hall KC, former Recorder of Bradford, who was a leading figure in the crackdown on dangerous drivers in Bradford.

Jonathan Durham Hall KC, former Recorder of Bradford (Image: Submitted) He said: "I fully support this new initiative.

"It will save lives."

Mr Hall said he had presided over many cases of dangerous driving, high-speed chases and "utter disregard of the safety and lives of others".

"I joined forces with the Telegraph & Argus in about 2005 to highlight the problem," he added.

"Over the years I had to deal with some of the most distressing cases of death and serious injury to numerous innocents.

"I had been calling for tougher sentences on those who caused serious injury while driving.

"It took 15 years for changes to the law to come about.

"The sentencing regime is sadly inadequate."

However, campaigners welcomed what they saw as a step in the right direction in June 2022, when the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving was increased from 14 years to life imprisonment. 

As an ambassador for the scheme, Ms Shah said she would work to "foster safer driving habits" and "create a more enjoyable and safer driving experience for all residents of Bradford".

She added: "Over the years, we have seen a significant rise in dangerous and reckless driving behaviours in Bradford West and across the district.

"These actions have not only led to a tragic number of road traffic incidents and deaths, but they have also increased noise pollution, and disrupted the quality of life for many residents."

The initiative has the support of insurance company Adiona, which promises to bring a "transparent, fairer and more competitive discount" to new policyholders in a bid to tackle uninsured driving.

Ms Shah added: "The scheme also seeks to address the socio-economic impact of dangerous driving, including higher insurance premiums, as well as the racial disparities within the motor insurance industry.

"I am pleased that this initiative aims to reduce these disparities by improving road safety and encouraging changes in the motor insurance industry practices."

Gill Arnold is the founder of the Yorkshire Champions Group, which is behind the new scheme.

Ms Arnold, chair of the West Yorkshire Magistrates' Bench between 2021 and March of this year, said: "The Yorkshire Champions Safer Drivers is an exciting new initiative that will be launched in Bradford in the coming months, just in time for UK City of Culture 2025.

"We have all seen far too many tragic collisions and fatalities on our roads, which do not just affect the immediate families, but have a deep and lasting impact on all the community.

"If we work together, we can make a positive and substantial difference to our everyday driving experience and ultimately make our roads safer for everyone."

The scheme is also backed by West Yorkshire Police.

West Yorkshire Assistant Chief Constable Osman Khan (Image: Submitted)

Assistant Chief Constable Osman Khan said: "West Yorkshire Police is committed to making the roads safer for all. 

"We recognise that enforcement in isolation will not achieve our ambitions and need both partnership and communities to support us.

"I am delighted to support Yorkshire Champions Safer Drivers.

"By working with motorists, we can recognise and promote good driving within our communities."

He also pointed to Vision Zero, an ambitious strategy which aims to eradicate all deaths and serious injuries on West Yorkshire's roads by 2040.

Vision Zero documents state that in 2022, 291 people were killed or seriously injured on Bradford's roads.

Officials aim to get that figure down to 218 by 2026, 146 by 2030 and then zero by 2040.

A Vision Zero spokesperson said: "While the targets appear as numbers, we recognise the human tragedy of each and every serious or fatal collision.

"One death on our roads is one too many."

The strategy to get road deaths and serious injuries on West Yorkshire's roads down to zero by 2040 focuses on the 'safe system approach' - safe roads, safe behaviours, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and an effective post-collision response.

Under each of these themes sit a number of objectives for the short and longer term.