Red routes linked to sharp drop in road injuries
Sam Dixon-French/BBCRoad injuries have fallen sharply on three of Brighton's busiest roads since red routes were introduced two years ago, council figures show.
Brighton & Hove City Council said injuries on London Road, Lewes Road and Preston Road fell from 31 in the year before enforcement to 17 in the latest 12‑month period.
The CCTV‑enforced routes, introduced in April 2024, restrict stopping except in marked bays to reduce congestion and improve safety.
But some traders along London Road say the restrictions have had a "big impact", with Smoke Mart convenience store owner Kamil Sharobi saying: "We've lost a lot of business."
He admits the decline could also be linked to the cost of living crisis and "things getting more expensive".
But he said he was frustrated by how strictly the rules are applied.
He and his team have received around 15 tickets for things like deliveries or briefly stopping, with about half successfully appealed, he said.
"There is no common sense."
Sharobi said he would like the restrictions to be lifted after 20:00, similar to that on some red routes in London.
He said: "Some amendments would be perfect. It's all about being fair."
Eddie MitchellThe council said the figures represented a 39% fall in slight and serious injuries in the first year of the scheme, and a 48% reduction so far in year two.
Brighton & Hove Buses also reported an 85.7% drop in passenger injury incidents along the routes.
Monitoring data also recorded a reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels in the six months after the red routes were installed, with the improvement continuing through 2025.
The council said footfall on London Road had increased by more than 100,000 movements in the year following the changes.
Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, said: "Anti-social parking and stopping was a big problem on these roads, making them dangerous and causing congestion."
Muten says: "We know one of the concerns from businesses about red routes is that it will discourage shoppers.
"But our data clearly shows there's been no impact on the number of people using London Road which is great news."
He said the council would continue to listen to businesses and residents affected by the scheme.
