The Tyne and Wear Traffic and Accident Data Unit (TADU) Annual Report 2008 provides a summary of road traffic accident and casualty statistics for Tyne and Wear for the last 5 years – 2004–2008, and provides a reference to the baseline year, to which the Government set targets for the reduction of road traffic casualties that are to be attained by 2010. The targets were set with respect to a baseline of the average of 1994 -1998. New targets are in the process of being set after a major consultation program.

This is the twenty third annual report published by TADU on behalf of the Tyne and Wear districts and is produced to comply with part of the statutory duties given to the Highway Authorities under the Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 39. As in previous reports this document includes a breakdown of data at both a Tyne and Wear and district level.

Many changes have been made to this years report compared to the previous reports, it is hoped that the report will answer many queries relating to road traffic accidents and casualties in Tyne and Wear. Data for the period 1974–2002 is available from TADU.

What is TADU?

The Tyne and Wear Traffic and Accident Data Unit or “TADU” plays a key role to support the delivery of transport solutions and economic development across Tyne and Wear. TADU is jointly funded by the 5 Tyne and Wear districts and manages two key data sets:

Road traffic accident data in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

Traffic flow data in Tyne and Wear.

TADU maintains the database of road traffic accident information on behalf of the Tyne and Wear districts. It also meets the statutory requirement for the provision of road traffic accident data to the Department for Transport on behalf of Tyne & Wear and Northumberland authorities. TADU is also responsible for collecting traffic flow data from an extensive network of automatic traffic count sites that it manages in Tyne and Wear and holds a database of manual traffic counts.

Since the last report the team has changed with Emma Cuthbertson becoming Emma Thompson and starting her own team with the addition of baby Harry. The rest of the team covered for her maternity leave and are now back to full strength.

The Regional Road Safety Monitoring Project funding came to an end in April 2009; new funding has been fund to continue the project for the next 2 years. The project has combined the 3 regional road traffic accident databases and carries out regional level analysis of this and linked data sets enabling better campaign planning. The project has a website containing reports and mapping at http://www.neroadsafety.org.uk|

What is the data used for?

The data it hosts and collects provides input into a wide range of areas including the following:

• Development and implementation of the Local Transport Plan;
• Strategic transport planning;
• Road safety campaigns and schemes;
• Transport schemes including road and public transport improvements;
• Managing congestion;
• Enhancement of provision for cyclists;
• Planning and development control;
• Environmental planning and control;
• Monitoring the progress of the above.

TADU works in close cooperation with a range of organisations. In addition to the five Tyne and Wear local authorities these include:

• Department for Transport;
• Government Office for the North East;
• Northumbria Police Force;
• The Highways Agency;
• Nexus;
• University and research community;
• Developers submitting planning applications.

The Information provided within the Annual Report represents the data held in the TADUAccident Database on 23rd March 2009.