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According to the Department for Transport, in Great Britain between 2021 and 2025, on average, 7 pedestrians died and 109 were seriously injured per week in reported collisions involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. The most common reason pedestrians were involved in collisions was recorded as ‘pedestrians careless or in a hurry’, and the most common reason for vehicles was ‘ineffective observation by either the driver or rider or pedestrian’. It was also found that pedestrian collisions were more likely to be fatal on roads in rural areas.
As part of our ongoing place-based engagement, Healthwatch Medway spoke to 38 residents living in Halling and Cuxton in August 2026, to understand how their local environment affects their health and wellbeing.
34 of the 38 residents we spoke to (89%) told us about issues with traffic and parking in the area. This was the highest level of concern about traffic and parking recorded through our place-based engagement so far this year. In Halling and Cuxton, almost 9 in 10 people raised concerns, compared to fewer than 5 in 10 people in each other area we’ve engaged in (Hoo Peninsula, Gillingham, Rochester, Strood, Walderslade and Lordswood and Rainham).
Of those who mentioned traffic and parking, 62% raised concerns about these issues causing a risk to safety for residents living in the area, referencing the speed of traffic and risk of accidents, with some having been involved in accidents themselves while living in the area.
“I got knocked over about four and a half years ago when in my garden hence the walking stick I'm using from the lasting damage it caused me. I have a strip of garden with no pavement by the road, I had come out with my wheelbarrow but [the driver] didn't see me so I got hit. Now I get someone to park their car in front of the garden so that there's a physical barrier between me/the garden and the road.”
“I nearly got run over outside Cuxton Infant School. People pull in and mount the curb with no thought for pedestrians.”
“I can't even walk out with the dog because there's lorries going along at 40mph with their wheels on the pavement. There should be a 30mph speed limit with cameras to enforce it. There's been multiple accidents on the bend when turning from Pilgrims Road, it's only a matter of time until someone is killed.”
29% of residents who mentioned traffic and parking shared concerns about a perceived ‘unsafe’ and ‘dangerous’ junction in the area (A228), due to the amount of traffic on the road.
“I've known people to get out of their car, run to the pedestrian crossing, press the button to force the lights to change so the traffic stops, run back to their car and then be able to pull out. Traffic/parking needs to be fixed but nothing will get done until a kiddie gets knocked over”
“It is very dangerous to take a right turn from Bush Road. It has cost a person’s life, and many accidents are happening there.”
Locally, speeding offences in Kent have increased since 2024. With more traffic on the roads and an increase in speeding offences, there is a potential increased collision risk for residents living in Kent and Medway. Research shows that concerns about road safety can influence travel behaviour, discouraging walking and cycling and result in residents using motorised rather than active modes of travel. Reduced levels of active travel can contribute to lower levels of physical activity and poorer health and wellbeing. One resident in Halling directly told us about the impact of traffic and safety concerns on their ability to engage in physical activity:
“We're encouraged to go out and walk but I can't walk down the footpath with the way things are, I have to get in my car to drive somewhere else, park up and then walk.”
Evidence also suggests that being involved in, or witnessing a road traffic accident can have lasting effects on physical and mental health. The experiences shared with us from residents in Cuxton and Halling show that many people perceive traffic, speeding and inconsiderate parking in the area to be creating an environment that is unsafe, and these concerns have the potential to affect residents’ physical and mental health.
Children have also been found to be at increased risk of collisions, while older adults are more likely to experience severe or fatal injuries when involved in collisions. Notably, many of the concerns shared with us by residents in Cuxton in Halling focused on road safety around schools and during school times.
“Someone's going to get killed here soon - probably a child from the school. People are often speeding down here but around 3pm it's mad and people park everywhere and drive all over the place. It's very dangerous and they can't even get buses through. It doesn't affect my travel, but I don't want dead kids.”
Considering the impact for residents, concerns about traffic and parking may need to be considered not only as transport issues, but through a public health lens, considering the impact on health and wellbeing and feelings of safety within the community.
Bias and Limitations
Residents we spoke to were those who were available and willing to speak to us at the time and location of each engagement event. Therefore, the sample is not representative of the Halling and Cuxton population. These findings should be interpreted as indicative trends rather than conclusive evidence.
