On Road Fatalities are up 10% – Statistics shown

A recent report from the Department for Transport (DfT) reveals a troubling trend in road fatalities in Britain, indicating a 10% increase when compared to the previous year. In 2022, there were 1,711 recorded fatalities, in contrast to 1,558 in the preceding year. However, the DfT attributes this rise to the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions and increased road traffic. This conclusion gains support from the data from 2019, which shows a 2% decline in road fatalities when compared to the statistics from 2022.

Furthermore, the report highlights that in 2022, there were 29,742 cases of killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties, marking a 3% reduction compared to the figures from 2019. Additionally, there were 135,480 casualties of all severities, reflecting a 12% drop compared to 2019. When viewed in a global context, Great Britain ranks fifth out of 38 countries with available data for the lowest number of road fatalities per million population in 2022.

The DfT’s report underscores that 76% of fatalities and 62% of casualties of all severities were male. Meanwhile, 3% of fatalities and 10% of casualties were aged 16 years old or younger. The data also reveals that 25% of all fatalities and 29% of casualties were aged between 17 and 29 years old, with 23% of fatalities and 7% of casualties being among those aged 70 and over.

Among male fatalities, the age group with the highest number of casualties was between 30 and 49, accounting for 375 fatalities. For females, the age group with the highest number of fatalities in 2022 was 70 and over, with 153 recorded fatalities. The majority of road fatalities in Britain occurred on rural roads, constituting 59% of the total, while motorways accounted for a significantly smaller proportion of road fatalities, at just 6%.

Responding to the release of these new official Government statistics on road casualties, RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis commented, “Confirmation of the increase in road casualties last year and the significant gender disparity is a stark reminder that substantial efforts are needed to enhance road safety in the UK. Even though our roads are statistically among the safest in Europe, there is still much work to be done.”

Dennis further highlighted the data’s revelation that last year witnessed more fatal collisions caused by distractions, impairment (resulting in 458 lives lost), and speeding (resulting in 303 lives lost). He emphasized the need for the government to prioritize addressing these complex issues, which continue to claim hundreds of lives annually. Additionally, he called for the reintroduction of casualty reduction targets, which were discontinued in 2010, to demonstrate the government’s serious commitment to road safety.

Councils already have a plan to reduce these figures by introducing new speed limit laws that may cause controversy, Click here to read more about it!