MOTORISTS in Barnsley are being urged to drive safely in the run-up to Christmas after it was revealed that more than 150 people were killed or seriously injured on South Yorkshire’s roads over the festive period last year.

Between November and December 2023, there was a spike in the number of people seriously injured in a road crash.

A total of 152 people were killed or seriously injured – 124 of those were drivers or passengers.

The South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership (SYSRP) are urging those with the most responsibility on the town’s roads to ‘protect lives’ as we enter dark nights.

A spokesperson said: “The return of the darker nights leads to increasingly challenging travelling conditions, with fewer daylight hours, wet and wintery weather and reduced visibility.

“These external factors put vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders at increased risk, so we all need to play a part in keeping them safe but in particular those who can cause the greatest harm.

“To avoid an increase in collisions, we are asking drivers to step up to the challenge and give themselves additional time to react as well as ensuring that they leave the minimum distance required by law when overtaking cyclists and horse riders.

“By taking extra precautions like checking your speed, the lights on your vehicle and the condition of your tyres, you will drastically reduce your chances of being involved in a collision and help to protect those more at risk.”

The ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’ was introduced into the Highway Code in January 2022 with the aim of improving the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.

It places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy – it does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly.

Latest figures show that eight people were killed on Barnsley’s roads in 2022, whilst a further 131 were severely injured.

The council’s ambition is to reduce the number of fatalities by at least 50 per cent by 2030, with a longer aim of zero people killed or seriously inured by 2050.

Through the ‘Vision Zero’ strategy, members of the partnership deliver road safety education programmes, casualty reduction travel schemes, investments in road improvements and public engagement through behaviour change campaigns.

The spokesperson added: “Even though we are appealing to drivers to take extra care this winter, it’s important that all road users play their part in staying safe.

“Two-wheel riders should check that their bike is in good working order, which includes checking brakes, gears, lights and reflectors.

“Pedestrians are advised to wear brightly coloured or fluorescent clothing which shows up well in daylight and dusk.

“Reflective accessories such as high-vis jackets or sashes will stand out against car headlights at night.”