Nottingham Express Transit has launched a new safety campaign highlighting the impact of road traffic collisions across the city’s tram network, following a 19% rise in incidents during 2025.

The operator said the cost of a single collision can exceed £100,000, while its most expensive incident to date cost more than £500,000.

The campaign includes testimony from three tram drivers involved in collisions, with Nottingham Express Transit aiming to highlight the emotional impact incidents can have on frontline staff alongside the operational disruption caused.

Between January and October 2025, Nottingham Express Transit recorded 205 emergency brake activations to avoid motorists, many linked to drivers running red lights.

Damage caused by collisions can force tram cabs out of service for repairs, with some work taking up to two years to complete. Nottingham Express Transit said this can reduce the number of trams available for operation, causing disruption long after the original incident has cleared.

Last summer, the operator introduced an emergency timetable across the Nottingham network following a series of collisions that left several trams unavailable for service, allowing the network to maintain a consistent timetable with a reduced fleet.

“There is nothing that could have prepared me for my incident. I never thought I would see someone run a red light all to gain a few seconds. I can still see the incident in slow motion. Hundreds of people place their trust in you daily. That trust can be broken in a split second because of someone else’s actions.”

NET Driver

“Having an incident that isn’t my fault has made me question if I am good enough for this job. Having a car pass a red light and into the side of my tram has really knocked my confidence.”

NET Driver

“Put simply, I am not the same person I was before my collision. I have been fortunate enough to continue my role as a tram driver, however I live in constant fear of the same situation happening again. After my incident the only thing I wanted to do was go home and see my children. People often forget we are humans, not robots.”

NET Driver