Paramedics’ plea to cut road deaths as London Ambulance Service backs Mayor’s safety plan

London Ambulance Service hosted the Mayor of London and Transport for London as they launched a new plan to cut the number of deaths and serious injuries on the capital’s roads.

Paramedics described the devastating impact of the collisions they attend at Friday’s launch of Vision Zero Action Plan 2, hosted by London Ambulance Service Chief Executive Jason Killens KAM at the Service’s brand-new facility in Canning Town.

Last year ambulance crews responded to nearly 9,000 collisions on London’s roads. They can be some of the toughest 999 calls they respond to.

Jason Killens KAM, Chief Executive of London Ambulance Service, said:

“Every road collision we attend represents a moment where lives can change forever. Our crews give their all to saving lives and caring for the injured, but there is no doubt about the human cost involved in road traffic accidents – families facing unimaginable loss.

“It’s often the vulnerable who are most at risk – the young and the old who are seriously hurt or killed. These incidents are particularly tragic because so many are preventable. And behind every incident is a person, a family, and a community affected.

“It was a privilege to host the Mayor, Transport for London and our blue light partners here at our new facility as we launch the next phase of Vision Zero. Working together we can prevent more of these devastating incidents and help keep Londoners safe.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“I’m proud that we have saved lives through the important steps already taken to deliver my Vision Zero goal, making our roads safer more quickly than the rest of the country and equivalent international capitals including New York and Paris.

“But every death or serious injury on our roads is unacceptable and we must go further and faster to eliminate this heartbreak across the capital. I’m pleased to have the support of vital partners on this new plan to further reduce road danger as we continue building a safer, fairer, better London for everyone.”

A number of paramedics at the event described the challenge of responding to these types of calls.

Paramedic Thembekile Dube said:

“These can be some of the most difficult incidents and are patients might be in a lot of pain – they can be frightened and confused. Often the scene is difficult – dark or wet or cold – and we might be on a busy dangerous road.

“It’s very distressing for families and loved ones and anyone who witnesses it. We try our best for every patient but wish the roads were safer.”

Paramedic Kiesha Dwyer said:

“These incidents can be heartbreaking. Once I was off-duty coming home after a night shift and I heard a collision as it happened. I knew it was bad and I called 999 and asked them to send the air ambulance and an advanced paramedic.

“I didn’t have any kit with me, but I went to the patient and stayed at his side until more help arrived. I will never forget him – he’d been heading to work and then in one catastrophic instant, everything changed.”

And Advanced paramedic Samantha Margetts added:

“Road collisions can be incredibly complex. You can have several patients with very different types of traumatic injuries – head injuries, chest injuries, broken bones, catastrophic blood loss – all needing your help.

“As an advanced paramedic, I get called to a lot of very serious collisions and often the driver has been speeding or is drunk or has taken drugs. I find that frustrating and it’s tragic – those collisions shouldn’t have happened.

The new five-year plan launched by the Mayor of London and Transport for London sets out measures to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads by 2041.

The new plan includes: 1,000 new pedestrian crossings; more cycle routes; and AI enabled cameras to detect dangerous driving.

The number of 999 calls to collisions has more than halved in the last decade since the Mayor introduced new road safety measures.

As well as boosting safety measures, Vision Zero will tackle the most dangerous offences: speeding, mobile phone use, driving under influence of drugs or alcohol, and driving uninsured or unlicensed.