Didn't the ONS slap down some govt. dept. last year for misusing statistics?

The ONS act like the IPCC but correct and rebuke government departments when they use statistics incorrectly?

?? Bloody useless TSC and their equally useless statistics/conclusions! Does this take into account the annual increase in population and as someone hinted at earlier, does it include non-impact road deaths too?? (Bloke died in a petrol station forecourt just around the corner t'other day, poor chap, just flaked out in the driving seat). The demographics would make interesting reading.

There'd be a huge increase in deaths of pedestrians, because only bad drivers have problems with pedestrians and so your idea would be giving the opportunity for bad drivers to become worse.

I also believe a significant number of pedestrians are killed on the pavement.

Maybe because of the crappy weather - be it snow/ice/rain it's all seemed to be on the increase.

I don't know about you but I find weather effects my driving more than who happens to be PM + Any political changes take god knows how long to have an effect any way - it certainly wouldn't be evident yet. Odd thing to comment on.

Lies, damned lies, and statistics...

This story is just more crap from the anti-car lefties. They won't be happy until they get the red flag act re-introduced and the motorway limit is 50mph.

It's the Governments thought to many u- turns , every one's going around in circles.

My own feeling is that the downward trend since the 60s has been predominantly down to improvements in vehicle safety/pedestrian protection.

Maybe the continued recession combined with the shortlived scrappage scheme explains a sudden dip then levelling out in the casualty rate?

Or else it's all within the range of normal fluctuation.

There are a lot of good points on this thread- the state of the roads, poor road policing, the whole "speed kills" nonsense (inappropriate speed kills- not just generalised speed)

I have been caught, paid fines...but ALL on clear dual carriageways at 85-90mph with good visibility and light traffic in a well maintained vehicle....the people that do 30-40 mph through town centres that are LITTERED with people and kids "because that's the limit" are the problem.

The same people that sit at 45mph on national speed sections of road and then when they reach the town village that drops to 30mph they don't even drop their speed! Where's the sense in that?

But the singlemost problem I see is nobody "cares" about the standard of their driving. I enjoy driving, and so, pride myself on being a good driver- a responsible driver and continue to try and improve where I can. Most people don't give a st whether they are a good driver or not, they are selfish and don't care what pains or issues they create for people around them on the roads- they only care that they get where they want.

Going back to the fog scenareo- how many do you guys see in fog or dim lighting flying about with no lights on? I have actually travelled with some of these idiots:

"mate, it's a big foggy eh- not want your lights on?"

"why- I can see far enough"

"yeah, but nobody else can see you!"

"that's their problem"

NO- it's your fking problem! I'm not a biker but if there's one thing that helps avoiding other's stupidity it is to make sure you are seen....

Right, better go cool off- I could go on all day....

Don't forget that the UK population has grown massively in the last 30 years or so, just as the road death and injury figures have decreased. It's a blip.

Louise Ellman would prefer the main cause of death for certain age groups to be something she isn't associated with.

If you drive to fast, you get fined, 'cos doing so will cause an accident. Cause/have an accident, and it's highly unlikely you'll get a summons at all unless it's a biggie. Lady rear ended me on the M4, wrote my car of. No injuries. Cops just happened to be a few vehicles behind. Ascertained we were both insured, MOT, driving license, not been drinking/drugs. Made sure we exchanged insurance info. Lady admitted she was going to fast, and couldn't stop. Cops not interested in issuing any sort of traffic offence/summons whatsoever.