Colourful artwork unveiled at Plymouth crossing after 29 people hurt in five years
Vision Zero South West hopes new street art at Mutley Plain will get people to stop, look and think
A new road safety campaign has been launched at Mutley Plain in Plymouth after data showed 29 people were injured there in collisions over five years.
Between 2020 and 2024, there were 25 collisions in the area, according to Vision Zero South West, the region's road safety partnership.
Of the 29 people injured, 12 were pedestrians.
The partnership has now introduced colourful artwork, posters and banners around Mutley Plain as part of a scheme called Plain Safe, which is designed to draw attention to crossing points and encourage drivers and pedestrians to look out for one another.
Why the campaign was launched
Vision Zero South West said that when it examined the collision data, one of the clear themes was that drivers and pedestrians were not always looking properly at crossing points.
The Chair of Vision Zero South West said: 'We know that reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads will not be achieved through one solution alone. It requires education, enforcement, engineering and engagement with communities.'
What the campaign involves
The Plain Safe campaign has been developed by Vision Zero South West alongside Plymouth City Council and local creative agencies.
It uses colourful artwork, posters, banners and other visual features around Mutley Plain to make crossing areas more visible.
The Chair of Vision Zero South West said road safety was not always about adding more signs, and that sometimes it was about finding new ways to get people to stop, look and think.
Community-led design
Residents and businesses in the area helped shape the campaign, and familiar local faces feature in the artwork.
The Chair of Vision Zero South West said: 'This is not a campaign being done to the community. It is something developed with the community.'
What happens next
The Plain Safe campaign will be evaluated over the coming months to assess what impact it has had.
The Chair of Vision Zero South West said: 'The Plain Safe campaign will be evaluated over the coming months to understand what impact it has had, but I am pleased that we are testing new ideas and working with local communities to tackle issues before another person gets hurt.'