A scheme designed to improve road safety has led to fewer casualties, better air standards, and greater numbers of people walking in affected areas, a senior local authority figure has said.

The initiative in Brighton and Hove saw the introduction of priority routes along Preston Road, London Road, and Lewes Road from April 2024. Surveillance cameras were deployed to detect improper vehicle use.

The roads featured twin red line restrictions rather than traditional yellow ones, meaning motorists could only halt, leave vehicles, or conduct loading and unloading within specific marked areas. Those breaching the rules face monetary fines.

The scheme proved divisive, with traders worried it might harm their commercial operations.

Nevertheless, councillor Trevor Muten, who holds the transport and city infrastructure portfolio at Brighton and Hove City Council, maintains the programme has met its targets.

During the initial twelve months, minor and severe traffic injuries fell by 39 percent, dropping from 31 occurrences to 19. The number decreased again to 17 between April 2025 and March 2026.

Councillor Muten observed that the priority routes are delivering beneficial results, noting that improper stopping and parking created considerable dangers on these stretches and caused delays for other road users. He said responses received about the scheme’s impact had been highly positive, with evidence showing considerable safety improvements alongside noticeable enhancements to air quality along these corridors.

Brighton and Hove Buses also noted an 85.7 percent reduction in customer injury reports in the relevant zones during March. Air quality monitoring identified decreased nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the half-year following introduction, with this trend continuing into 2025.

The authority confirmed that commercial worries about potential drops in shopper numbers failed to materialise.

Indeed, London Road saw over 100,000 extra pedestrian journeys during the year following the priority route introduction.

Foot traffic rose from 4.78 million between May 2023 and April 2024, to 4.89 million between May 2024 and April 2025.

Councillor Muten explained that the authority understood traders had concerns the priority routes might discourage visitors, but the figures clearly demonstrate there has been no impact on the number of people travelling to London Road, which is positive news.

In May 2025, traders in Hove began a campaign requesting the abandonment of the council’s plans to extend the priority route network, highlighting problems with penalties issued for brief stops to load and unload goods.