Evaluation of the neighbourhood Road Safety Initiative

The Neighbourhood Road Safety Initiative was a demonstration project funded by the Department for Transport. It was aimed at tackling particular problems of road safety in disadvantaged communities (as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation). The project aimed to develop a holistic approach to road safety in disadvantaged communities by encouraging partnership working between local agencies such as transport, health, education, social services, police and others to undertake complementary programmes of work that will directly and indirectly improve the road safety of all road users in the community. In addition to the specific grants to local highways authorities, NRSI included the issuing of guidance on road safety and disadvantage to all LHAs.

The evaluation of the project was undertaken by a Miskin Group consortium led by Heather Ward.

Principal investigators and researchers

UCL: Heather Ward
Swansea: Ronan Lyons
West of England: Elizabeth Towner, Richard Kimberlee, Mariana Brussoni
Surrey: Nicola Christie, Jude Sleney
Child Accident Prevention Trust: Michael Hayes

Time frame

October 2004 – Mar 2008

Funding source

Department for Transport

Papers and reports associated with this study

The report on the evaluation is available from the Department for Transport’s website as Road Safety Web Publication No. 19.

A further output from the collaboration was a report compiled to assist and stimulate people responsible for reducing road casualties in disadvantaged communities to learn from the experiences of those involved in the NRSI, and to provide background information on the connections between road safety and disadvantage so that managers, practitioners and elected members can make a strong case for action in tackling this problem. It is available as Road Safety Research Report no.97.

Christie, N., Kimberlee, R., Towner, E.M.L., Ward, H., Sleney, J., Rodgers, S.E., Lyons, R.A. (2011) Opportunities and barriers for cycling amongst children aged 9-14 living in deprived areas in England. Journal of Transport Geography. (In press)