There has been a huge outcry over road traffic collisions in Birmingham that led to seven deaths and injuries over the past seven weeks.
On Sunday (June 18), hundreds of people attended a demonstration in Kings Heath where campaigners urged West Midlands Police, Birmingham City Council and other authorities to take urgent measures to make roads safer for people.
The demonstration took place following a woman and a child were severely injured in Kings Heath on Thursday, June 15. The organisers - Better Streets for Birmingham - said: “The demonstration was in response to very recent tragic and wholly preventable incidents. There were strong emotions, as there should be.”
There have been seven deaths, including four cyclists, and serious injuries since the beginning of May 2023, in Birmingham and the issue was not isolated to any one part of the city. Road safety issues have emerged as a danger to active travellers and motorists far and wide.
It has caused growing anger and frustration among residents - who have conducted more than two demonstrations in less than 10 days. A vigil was conducted on Belgrave Middleway on Saturday (June 10) and the protest on June 18 was held from Harborne to Kings Heath.
Here are the locations in Birmingham where recent collisions caused deaths and injuries:
9. Queen’s Road, Smethwick
A 29-year-old man was taken to hospital after being struck by a vehicle on Queens Road, near the junction of Wall Close, just before 1am on May 8. He died later in the day. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google
10. Nechells Parkway, Birmingham
On May 1, a 19-year-old man died after the car he was travelling in crashed into a tree in Nechells. The man - who was a passenger in the white Audi SQ5 vehicle - was sadly declared dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle and another passenger in the rear of the vehicle were taken to hospital with minor injuries. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps