Calderdale Council has worked with students from across West Yorkshire to develop new ideas for improving road safety and everyday journeys across Calderdale.
Senior leaders from Calderdale Council and university students from across the region came together in Halifax for the final stage of a project exploring how people think, feel and behave on Calderdale’s roads.
While the region has made progress on road safety, collision data and behavioural research are helping to identify opportunities for further improvement.
Delivered in partnership with Yorkshire Universities, the two-week project produced a range of recommendations and potential interventions for consideration as part of the Council’s road safety strategy.
The Council will consider the proposals produced by the student consultancy teams, alongside additional evidence, data and insight from residents, to help shape future initiatives aimed at improving safe travel across Calderdale.
Deborah Harkins, Director of Public Health & Climate Action at Calderdale Council said:
“Our priority is to ensure residents can travel safely and confidently around Calderdale. By working with young people and learning from their experiences, we can better understand the challenges faced by those on our roads and develop solutions that make a real difference.”
John Harrison, Associate on Skills at Yorkshire Universities said:
“This collaborative project gives students the opportunity to apply their skills to a real-world challenge, while simultaneously helping the Council develop evidence-based approaches to improving road safety in the area.”
Background
In Autumn 2025, Yorkshire and Humber Local Authority Chief Executives asked Yorkshire Universities to explore how connections between Local Authorities and the higher education sector could be strengthened. This work aims to build leadership capacity and improve graduate recruitment and retention across the public sector. A three-part proposal was put forward, with the ‘Live Project’ pilot conducted in partnership with Calderdale Council serving as the first initiative. This project is funded by Yorkshire and Humber Councils under the Memorandum of Understanding.
