Fewer people killed on West Midlands roads - but rise in serious injuries
In his annual report, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said improving safety on roads and clamping down on offences remain a key priority.
Deaths on West Midlands roads have fallen in the last two years but the number of people getting seriously injured has increased.
In his annual report, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said improving safety on roads and clamping down on offences remain a key priority.
Data within the report shows progress has been made in a number of areas such as reducing fatalities on roads, increasing enforcement and reducing illegal street racing.
But the number of serious injuries on the roads has gone up as has the level of crime on trains and trams in the West Midlands.
Mr Foster said more action is needed to address these issues in the coming year.
The figures show that, at the end of March 2026, there had been 41 fatalities – 16 fewer than at the same point in 2024.
But the number of people seriously injured as of the end of March 2026 stood at 1,180 compared with 1,131 in 2024.
Enforcement of all ‘fatal four’ driving offences (speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt or using a mobile phone or other distraction) increased from 3,488 in 2024 to 5,581 two years later.
Of this, however, drink or drug arrests fell from 2,936 in the year ending March 2024 to 2,761 in 2026.
The PCC’s bid to reduce organised criminal street racing is on track with 2,682 offences this year compared with 4,049 in 2024.
There has been a huge increase in Operation Snap reports, where members of the public can submit video footage of reckless road behaviour or poor driving.
In 2026, there were 22,056 reports compared with 7,842. But the number of positive outcomes from Operation Snap reports has decreased from 81 per cent in 2024 to 59 per cent this year.
Police seizures of vehicles unlawfully on West Midlands roads also rose from 11,854 in 2024 to 14,056 in 2026.
Bus crime has been slightly reduced from 4,218 incidents to 4,183 but train crime rose from 2,570 to 3,098 while metro crime increased from 114 to 120 in the same period.
Mr Foster said: “Improving safety across the road network remained a key priority for me throughout the year, supported by increased enforcement and preventative activity.
“Road fatalities reduced from 57 to 41, while enforcement against the Fatal Four driving offences increased by 60.01 per cent compared with the baseline year.
“Police also seized 14,056 vehicles for offences including driving without insurance, tax or a valid licence, representing an 18.58 per cent increase in proactive enforcement activity.
“Public involvement in road safety reporting also increased substantially. More than 22,000 third-party reports were submitted by members of the public, an increase of 181.25 per cent, with 59 per cent resulting in positive outcomes.
“Illegal street racing incidents reduced by 33.76 per cent, demonstrating continued success in disrupting dangerous driving behaviour.
“Whilst enforcement activity has increased, regrettably the number of people seriously injured on the roads increased slightly by 4.33 per cent and some public transport crime modes rose during the year.
“Although sustained progress indicates that the West Midlands road network is becoming safer, ongoing analysis and action is required to determine the underlying causes of and address these upward trends.”
The West Midlands Regional Road Safety Strategy and action plan was launched in 2024 with aims including reducing speed limits and increased enforcement of speeding, action against dangerous driving and uninsured drivers.
It aims to cut deaths and serious injuries on West Midlands roads by 50 per cent by 2030 and ‘Vision Zero’ by 2040.