Road traffic accidents 548/2024
FOI Reference: 548/2024
Request:
I specifically would like to know the total number of road traffic accidents broken down by road speed (eg 20mph, 30mph, 40mph etc), by accident seriousness, and by the following periods:
- Accidents for the 6 months pre introduction of 20mph default
- Accidents for the 6 months post introduction of 20mph default
I want this data to identify any positive impact of introducing the 20 mph on accidents.
Response:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested; however the following exemption has been applied to that information:
Section 21 – Information reasonably accessible by other means
Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 places two duties on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at Section 1(1)(a) is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty at Section 1(1)(b) is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held.
Where exemptions are relied upon Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires -Powys Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:
(a) states that fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
The above exemption has been applied in relation to all data recorded up to the end of 2023, due to the fact that the requested information is published and can be accessed via the following hyperlink -
Police recorded road collisions: interactive dashboard | GOV.WALES
In addition to this, the following exemption has been applied in relation to all data recorded since 2024:
Section 22 – Information Intended for Future Publication
“(1) Information is exempt information if –
(a) the information is held by the public authority with a view to its publication, by the authority or any other person, at some future date (whether determined or not),
(b) the information was already held with a view to such publication at the time the request for information was made, and
(c) it is reasonable in all circumstances that the information should be withheld from disclosure until the date referred to in paragraph.”
Section 22 is a qualified class-based exemption and considerations must be given as to whether there is a public interest in providing the information prior to the anticipated publication.
Public Interest Test
Considerations favouring disclosure:
Dyfed-Powys Police is committed to demonstrating an ethos of openness, transparency and accountability and to disclose the information would be seen as providing updated information, and demonstrating continuing ongoing awareness. Current information would enhance public knowledge of the subject and that may better inform public debate around this subject.
Considerations favouring non-disclosure:
The requested information is proactively published and is currently being collated and verified prior to publication, therefore to disclose the information requested under the Freedom of Information Act would pre-empt this disclosure. Publication processes are in place and disclosure outside of those arranged processes will render such processes obsolete. Such processes are in place to ensure the proactive publication of information, which is in line with the ethos of openness and transparency found within the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Balancing Test
Factors need to be balanced to see if they favour disclosure or non-disclosure of the information. In this case the strongest consideration for disclosure is demonstrating an ethos of openness, transparency and accountability, being weighed against the consideration for non-disclosure which in this case is that the requested information is proactively produced and published. Proactive publication of information assists in meeting the public interest test, disclosure at an earlier date would render such processes obsolete and the Force would continuously have to furnish Freedom of Information requests when there is a process in place which ensures that the Force is open and transparent in regard to such information. Therefore, at this moment in time, the balancing test for disclosure is not made out.
Therefore, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
It should be noted that as a result of the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such information that the information released may or may not be accurate.
(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 20.06.2024)