DfT tackles deprived area casualties through NRSI

Research shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are five times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on roads than their peers from least deprived areas.

To tackle this, the DfT launched the Neighbourhood Road Safety Initiative (NRSI) in October 2002 as part of the Government's Dealing With Disadvantage programme. NRSI is a partnership between 15 local authorities in the north west, Midlands and Yorkshire and two police forces in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Local authorities in Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside and Wigan were chosen because they are geographically adjacent and have high child accident rates in line with their relatively high levels of multiple deprivation. A further five authorities in Bradford, Liverpool, Nottingham, Sandwell and Stoke-on-Trent also joined the initiative. All have received funding to find and deliver innovative ways of tackling the problem of high numbers of road casualties in deprived wards, particularly those involving children.

A NRSI central team works closely with and in support of the authorities. It aims to:

• Reduce road casualties in deprived wards
• Ensure the initiative's road safety messages reach all elements of the community including 'hard to reach' groups
• Raise awareness of road safety issues and the causes of road collisions through publicity, education and research
• Change attitudes and behaviour of all road users

Ongoing projects include a range of physical measures such as new playgrounds, crossing improvements and traffic calming schemes, alongside working with communities, schools and organisations such as Sure Start and Primary Care Trusts.

Further information is available by emailing:
nrsi@notes.manchester.gov.uk