The first year of reliable casualty data from the East Oxford Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and cycle lane improvements in Oxford shows a reduction of 12 casualties from pre-LTN levels, mostly on boundary roads. Casualties in the LTNs and on The Plain roundabout also reduced.
We estimate the Cowley and East Oxford LTNs combined with the cycle lanes (sometimes called ‘quickways’ have by now (February 2026) avoided about 98 casualties with a total economic benefit of £7.0 million through saved emergency services, saved hospital time, saved productivity, and reduced damage and insurance costs. There are additional benefits through increased walking and cycling, and reduced air pollution.
Casualty reductions in East Oxford LTNs and Boundary Roads
Three new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) were implemented in East Oxford, Oxford
in May 2022, adding to other LTNs in all parts of the city. Throughout 2022 they suffered
from extensive vandalism and at least two casualties can be attributed to motorists driving
into pedestrians where bollards had been removed. In 2023, the plastic bollards were
replaced with more secure wooden bollards and the East Oxford LTNs were made
permanent, with some streets having the bollards replaced with ANPR enforcement with
exemptions for taxis, post and some service vehicles. This means that 2022 and 2023 had
partial LTN effects and 2024 had full LTN effects.
Cycle lanes were implemented on Iffley Road in the same time period, and other changes
on Cowley Road, which will also have had an impact. Other data shows an increase of
cycling in the area, and with many casualties in the area being cyclists, the rate of cyclist
casualties does not seem to have increased.
The data for 2024 shows a reduction of 9 casualties on the boundary roads (the roads
bordering the filtered LTN areas), and small reductions in the LTN areas and on The Plain.
“The first year of clear data from the East Oxford LTNs shows a strong reduction in
casualties, mostly on boundary roads, and particularly by reducing crashes by rat-running
drivers turning in and out of the side streets. This is consistent with the Cowley LTNs and
results from other cities – LTNs make our streets safer.” said Robin Tucker, Co-Chair of
CoHSAT.
Our recent analysis Oxford’s Cowley LTNs also showed a reduction of 11 casualties per
year, 6 of which was from reductions on boundary roads. A recent study of 113 LTNs in
London by the University of Westminster, also found that removing through-traffic reduces
collisions and casualties at junctions.
A local parent said, “Walking along Cowley Road used to be stressful with drivers turning
in and out of every side street. Now Divinity Road is no longer a rat-run, I feel safe letting
my older child walk to the Co-op unaccompanied.”
Despite unevidenced claims to the contrary, there has been no significant ‘traffic
displacement’ onto other roads, or increase in casualties or air pollution on them. An
analysis of traffic counts around the perimeter of the LTN areas, shows a reduction in
traffic on major routes in East Oxford since the LTNs were installed. The only major road
where traffic has increased is Abingdon Road, and this is due to the closure of Botley
Road. Our analysis takes into account collisions and casualties on relevant boundary
roads. And, air pollution on all boundary roads, and indeed air pollution is reduced at all
monitoring sites in Oxford, since the LTNs were installed.
For Oxfordshire Liveable Streets, Siobhann Mansel-Pleydel said, “There’s a worrying
complacency in how we think about road injury and death as the price of getting around —
yet every collision ripples through families and communities. CoHSAT’s analysis of three
years of data from East Oxford LTNs shows what’s possible when we intentionally design
places, from traffic movement to street layouts, around people’s wellbeing: fewer people
hurt, less trauma carried by families, and safer everyday journeys for people walking,
cycling, wheeling and driving. That’s the outcome we should protect and build on.”
See our full analysis paper below.
[1] Impacts of 2020 Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in London on Road Traffic Injuries | Published in Findings
