THE number of people injured in road traffic collisions in the Bradford West area fell last year, mirroring a downward trend across the district.

Members of the council’s Bradford West Area Committee will receive an annual update on road safety when they meet at City Hall on Wednesday, with the total number of casualties for 2015 said to be 516, down more than three per cent from 535 casualties in 2014.

The number of fatalities on the area’s roads is shown as having fallen from four in 2014 to just one last year, although the number of people seriously injured rose from 35 to 37.

The number of slight injuries fell from 496 to 478 over the same 12 months.

The number of pedestrian casualties rose from 100 in 2014 to 117 last year, but the number of people injured while travelling in cars fell from 356 to 321, and the number of cyclists hurt in collisions fell from 31 to 29.

Across the district as a whole, the total number of casualties was down nearly four per cent from 1,752 in 2014 to 1,685 last year, with fatalities down from 15 to seven.

The number of serious injuries fell from 190 in 2014 to 181 in 2015, with slight injuries down from 1,547 to 1,497.

As part of its involvement in the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan, Bradford Council has set a target of reducing the number of fatal and serious road casualties across the district by 50 per cent by 2026, which would equate to a rate of 124 casualties per year.

All figures in the report set to go before the committee are compiled using road traffic collision records from West Yorkshire Police.

The report states: “Car occupants account for the highest number of casualties and are targeted through publicity campaigns and enforcement.

“Education and training initiatives, delivered at local level, target the 0 to 19 age group through work with schools, other educational establishments, youth organisations, multi-agency partnerships and area co-ordinator teams.

“In Bradford West, activities in primary schools focused on pedestrian safety sessions and there was a strong take-up for the practical pedestrian training for Year 3.

“Secondary schools received Theatre in Education performances for Year 7 which addressed pedestrian safety.

“In 2016 - 2017 the team will continue to address key issues in Bradford West identified from the Annual Road Casualties Report.”

Councillor Mohammed Amran (Lab, Heaton), chairman of the committee, said: “Obviously I welcome the positive inroads we have made in schools and in the community.

“Hopefully the work we are doing will see the downward trend continue.”