The Active Travel Commissioner for the region set out a plan to reduce the number of people 'Killed or Seriously Injured' (KSIs) on the roads to zero.
It comes after data published by Bolton Council showed there were more than 100 KSIs reported in the 12 months to this time last year up from 60 KSIs reported in the 12 months previous.
On Monday at an event in Ashton, Tameside, Sarah Storey set out a plan to reduce this number not to a lower level, but to zero, across the region. The strategy is referred to as 'Vision Zero'.
Dame Sarah, the best British Paralympian of all time with 28 medals in cycling and swimming, said these KSIs are neither 'acceptable' nor 'inevitable'.
READ MORE: Bolton: Police explain increase in casualties on roads.
She said: "Any death or serious injury on our roads is one too many, and these collisions are already devastating people’s lives.
"It is heartbreaking to learn of fatal or life-changing collisions and there are some horrendous incidents right on our doorstep. These incidents are neither acceptable nor inevitable, and we should all be doing everything we can to prevent them."
In 2006, Dame Sarah was riding to Rivington when she was hit by a car on a roundabout outside Westhoughton. She broke her right hand.
She hopes her strategy, which is under development by expert Agilysis, is a step towards the eradication of these 'horrendous incidents'. Agilysis is speaking to partners such as the emergency services and taking inspiration from practices in places from Bristol and London to Oslo and Stockholm.
READ MORE: Bolton: Children respond to car crashes at workshops.
She said: "Back in November I launched a refreshed mission for Greater Manchester's active travel programme and within it I recommended the region adopt Vision Zero. Today's announcement is the first step on making it a reality and I hope the work will pave the way in making everyone feel safe when they take to the roads, whether it is in a car, on foot or on a bike.
"Getting it right will require a collective effort and commitment by everyone, which is why I am delighted to have Agilysis on board as we start our journey today."
In Bolton, the number of KSIs roads increased around 68 per cent last year, according to data.
The data, from a Corporate Dashboard published by Bolton Council, showed there were more than 100 KSIs reported in the 12 months to this time last year up from 60 KSIs reported in the 12 months previous.
Some of this rise is attributable to the end of coronavirus restrictions, as traffic returned to pre-pandemic levels over this period. But more than 100 KSIs is a rise on the four years before coronavirus restrictions, when the average was around 82 KSIs a year.
Police said the increase came at the same time as the adoption of a system called Collision Recording and Sharing (CRASH), which saw some injuries once categorised as 'slight' now categorised as 'serious'.
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for the region, said: "Commitment to Vision Zero in cities and regions across the UK and overseas resulted in a significant reduction in death and serious injury on the roads.
"We look forward to the outcome of the work by Agilysis to see the potential for positive outcomes in Greater Manchester, building on the work already undertaken by districts, Transport for Greater Mancheter, the police and other partners."
The strategy is set for a consultation then for consideration by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority next year.
This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.
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