Transport
In the borough of Rochdale, the rate of people killed or seriously injured on the roads is 51.2 killed or seriously injured (KSI) per billion vehicle miles. This is below the England average of 86.1 KSI and the North West of 79.5 KSI (Department for Transport, 2020).
The role of transport in our lives
Transport plays a key role in people's health and the focus of English transport policy since the 1940s has been on increased mobility. This provides people with access to more employment opportunities, education, recreation and leisure activities, shops, services, family, friends and support networks.
How does transport affect health?
The health impacts of transport methods are varied and can have a major impact on individuals and communities. Direct impacts include:
- Transport related accidents
- Physical activity levels and weight gain associated with low activity
- Air pollution
- Noise issues
- Access to a range of services
All of these can have a positive or negative impact on people's health and wellbeing and lack of access to suitable transport can contribute to health inequalities. This is because not all population groups see an increased ability to travel and deprivation tends to be amplified through transport systems.
Statistics on transport
- Transport for Greater Manchester - Transport statistics - the Transport for Greater Manchester site publishes statistics on road accidents, traffic flows, train and Metrolink usage, cycling and walking.
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) - Wider determinants of health profile - the wider determinants of health profile includes a section on the natural and built environment and contains data on exposure to transport noise, road accidents, access to woodland, access to assets and air pollution.
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) - Supporting material on the built and natural environment - this section of the profile includes resources, ideas for interventions and case studies on transport.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance - Home - NICE has produced a number of documents on transport including guidance on walking and cycling, physical activity and unintentional injuries.