While 15 people killed on Bradford’s roads last year is 15 too many, efforts to improve safety do appear to have borne some fruit.

That represents a fall of almost half the number of deaths from the total of five years ago.

At the same time, the overall number of serious accidents has also declined, decreasing from 214 to 193, and accidents causing slight injury have fallen from 1,396 to 1,101.

The only increase seems to be the number of cyclists injured, rising from 83 in 2007 to 122 in 2012, undoubtedly because of the increase in cyclists on our roads, and is something that needs to be addressed.

Factors in the overall reduction are undoubtedly improved education for motorists and other road users and improved technology in cars. Speed restrictions and traffic management have also played their part.

It is important we move forward from this figure, and police, Bradford Council and all other agencies involved in road safety work together towards one day having no fatal accidents on our roads.

That is, sadly, still a long way off. Too many are still prepared to flout the laws of the road, or to use dangerous cars or other vehicles – and, sometimes, a tragic accident can just be the result of bad luck.

But continued analysis of figures and using that analysis to work out the areas that need addressing will help to decrease figures.

And one particular area of concern must be better protection for those who have left the car behind and got on their bikes.

As Coun Imran Hussein says, one death is too many and safety on our roads must remain a priority for Bradford Council and the police.