BRADFORD West MP Naz Shah has revealed her own personal heartache after losing someone close to her as a result of dangerous driving.

She revealed the sad news in a letter to Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe, where she urged the ‘Vision Zero’ strategy be adopted and said her experience is “all too familiar”.

The Vision Zero strategy was first implemented in Sweden and seeks to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and severe injuries. It is described as a preventative approach “that prioritises traffic safety as a public health issue”.

Dangerous driving has been a blight on Bradford and the severity of the problem, seen on a daily basis and highlighted in the city’s courts, prompted the Telegraph & Argus to launch its ‘Stop the Danger Drivers’ campaign.

Ms Shah said the issue has to be dealt with “as a matter of urgency” particularly in light of what she has seen in her own constituency.

Bradford Council said it is “looking in detail” at the strategy, but it has to be part of a “consistent, whole systems approach to safer roads”.

In her letter, Ms Shah wrote: “Given the sharp increase in deaths caused by dangerous driving in Bradford West and the BD8 and BD9 postcodes, in my constituency being identified as crash for cash hotspots by the Insurance Fraud Bureau, it is important that the issue of dangerous driving is addressed.

“Recently, I lost someone close to me as a result of a dangerous driving incident and he leaves behind a young wife and 14-month-old child.

“Unfortunately, this story of loss is all too familiar, and we must work to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

“The Vision Zero Strategy seeks to eliminate all traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries, the strategy was first implemented in Sweden and since then it has proved successful across European countries.

“My understanding is that the Vision Zero Strategy was proposed to Bradford Council three years ago.”

She added: “My Labour colleague for Bradford South, Judith Cummins MP has previously called for Vision Zero to be adopted and has been a keen campaigner of road safety.

“I recognise that much work has been done in regard to dangerous driving locally. However, just as the issue has become more significant in recent years, I believe the action also needs to become more ambitious.

“Therefore, I too am asking for the Vision Zero Strategy to be adopted by Bradford Council.

“In light of this, I would be grateful if you could help me understand the reasons behind why the strategy has not been adopted as yet and what steps the Council is taking to address the issue of dangerous driving.”

Ms Shah also wrote to Councillor Hinchcliffe in her capacity as chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, highlighting the need for the strategy to also be adopted at a regional level.

Road safety charity Brake welcomed the MP’s call.

Director of Campaigns Joshua Harrison said: “Vision Zero is the right approach to make streets safe for everyone and we’re delighted that Naz Shah has given it her support. We need to focus on designing out road danger, and end the stagnation in road safety improvement – every death on the road is a preventable tragedy.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Bradford District has a long history as road safety pioneers and has been strong in our response to level the playing field in terms of highway casualty rates.

“Bradford saw the first police partnership to tackle anti-social driving behaviour and it still exists to date. Operation Steerside recently won a national award for excellent partnership working with a local authority. We were also the first authority in the UK to integrate Public Health priorities within highway safety programmes.”

The spokesperson added: “We are delivering a wide range of other interventions, including a 20mph programme for towns, 20mph schools programme, School Streets in partnership with JUMP and Public Health, an advanced education, training and publicity programme and a Bikeability programme to teach new and experienced cyclists safety tips.

“All of which are co-ordinated and funded through investment in our highway safety delivery programme.

“One road death is one too many and we are looking in detail at Vision Zero but it must be part of a consistent, whole systems approach to safer roads.”