March 11, 2021 10.32 am This story is over 37 months old

No deaths on Lincolnshire roads in 2021 so far

Although traffic was almost the same
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
By Local Democracy Reporter

For the first time in over three decades, nobody has died on Lincolnshire’s roads in the first months of the year.

2021 has so far seen no fatalities and three serious injuries on Lincolnshire roads so far, according to the county’s road safety partnership.

At this stage in 2020, there had already been five deaths on the roads, and before 2021 there had not been zero deaths in the first two months of the year since records began in 1985.

John Siddle from Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership said that while roads are quieter due to lockdown, this isn’t the “root cause” of the low figures.

He said: “Our present thoughts are that traffic is around 85% of what it normally is, however, with schools returning that figure may be closer to 95%.

“Because of this, lockdown may not be the root cause, it could be that drivers are in fact taking more care when driving.

“I would certainly like to think the message is getting through and people realise their own vulnerability.

“For most people, driving is probably the most dangerous thing they do, although some people do not give driving the care and attention it needs.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire on Thursday morning, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, Neil Greig, said: “I am surprised to hear the partnership say the lockdown has had nothing to do with it.

“The general consensus is that lockdown and less traffic means less death on the road, but in Lincolnshire there were deaths even in lockdown.

Mr Greig also said that it could be down to a number of things, including weather and increased caution on the roads, as well as lockdown.

“Perhaps people are just taking things a bit more seriously due to the overall impact of coronavirus, perhaps the value of life is higher and people are valuing their time more.”