Unclear how many people are dying in crashes on Bristol’s roads due to computer glitch

The number of people dying in crashes on Bristol’s roads is a mystery due to a computer glitch. Bristol City Council is aiming to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in collisions, but there are ongoing problems with getting accurate and up-to-date data.

From April to June this year, 26 people were killed or seriously injured, according to preliminary data from Avon and Somerset Police. But it’s not known exactly how many were killed and how many were injured, and there are at least 50 collision records missing from a council database.

The lack of information is hampering efforts for the council’s Vision Zero campaign. Last year councillors agreed to take action on reducing the number of deaths from car crashes to zero. But it’s difficult to measure progress without getting that accurate data.

An update on road safety data was given to councillors on the transport policy committee on October 24. Green Councillor David Wilcox said: “This problem has been ongoing for the past two years. We’re not getting the data from Avon and Somerset Police. We really do need this data as soon as possible.”

Council bosses said they would try to get the data more quickly from the police, and Clare Moody, the police and crime commissioner. Although they warned there was little they could do but ask again.

Patsy Mellor, director of management of place, said: “The team has escalated it to the PCC to try to get pressure applied, so that we can have better data that’s more up to date. Unfortunately we cannot make the police do it, but we are applying pressure.”

Green Cllr Ed Plowden, chair of the transport committee, added: “I’ll take away an action to do my very best, but I can’t exactly force the police to do this. We’ll use all the channels we personally can. I’m told there’s a bit of a glitch in their systems and they’re trying to work through the actual data. It’s not a great situation to be in.”

During April and June, one more person either died or was seriously injured this year compared to the 25 in the same quarter last year, and just 11 in 2022, according to police data. Overall last year, 102 people were killed or seriously injured, the highest figure since 2018-19, possibly due to fewer people now working from home after the pandemic.

This issue has been raised by councillors repeatedly for over a year, including in the former growth and regeneration scrutiny commission. The lack of data means it’s harder for the council to make the roads safer.

Speaking to the commission in March earlier this year, Conservative Cllr Mark Weston said: “I’ve got a road in my ward, Hallen Road, where we have accidents and collisions. I tell [council] officers about them and they say they haven’t been told by the police.

“It’s not in our power to act or put any mitigation in because the police haven’t told them about the collisions and the accidents and the woman who nearly died in hospital. There’s a police failure to give us the information we need to make the roads safer. We need that info fast.”