A savage weekend of deaths on UK roads this weekend

[Every day a journey]

Can't ever recall this number in one weekend period.

Six here (four in car and two on motorbike) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/west_yorkshire

Four here, all in one car - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c849keyyzkeo

Two motorcyclists here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnd0en2gzp1o

One here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd1xg1dpnx6o

One here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn09e0nw115o

Another motorcyclist - https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/07/20/mot...

Another car - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51ygn6d23do

cyclist - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e5xe4gljzo

Another - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnd0en2gzp1o

Eighteen....in one weekend.

That's shocking.

Nearly a double here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx72j0l1nezo

'Distracted' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ngej1j19jo

[brillomaster]

whats the average number of deaths over a weekend? is that number going up, going down, or staying roughly the same?

i can only conclude, that these high deaths are somehow linked to me being in london for the weekend and using public transport. therefore, i'll try and drive more often, keep the deaths down.

[Every day a journey]

The average on most recent figures (2022) is 4.64 per day so approx double the average. Can't find any breakdown of days of week etc

[Leveret]

[quote=Every day a journey]"The average on most recent figures (2022) is 4.64 per day so approx double the average."

What with the massive increase in road traffic and the fast approaching speeds on our narrow single carriageway roads it's amazing road deaths are so few. When I was a lad it was around 20 per day - in a much lower population.

[rallycross]

The crash where the family in a focus were killed by a motorbike on the wrong side of the road looks horrific.

[unsprung]

Leveret said:

Every day a journey said:

The average on most recent figures (2022) is 4.64 per day so approx double the average.

What with the massive increase in road traffic and the fast approaching speeds on our narrow single carriageway roads it's amazing road deaths are so few. When I was a lad it was around 20 per day - in a much lower population.

The march of technology and raising the bar on best practice have saved countless lives, haven't they.

To your point, there's also something of a step backwards in the large mass of today's vehicles and in the sometimes excessive speed tolerated on streets that attract lots of traffic and pedestrians. I speak not only of the UK but also the US (where I am).

Obviously it's useful, in this thread, to comment the rise of road deaths in the UK. Comparatively however UK numbers don't look quite so bad. See the per 1 billion vehicle km column on this chart:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by...

[Master Bean]

The cyclist was hit a week ago. Still, sunny weather and lots of people out and about.

[Downward]

2 Pedestrian's
1 died
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn09e0nw115o

[Dunbar871]

Cyclists have never had much regard to self preservation. No protection, repeatedly cycling through red lights and up the inside of left turning trucks. It’s an absolutely bloody miracle more weren’t killed last weekend tbh…

[Terminator X]

All with low limits and getting lower as time goes by. Almost as if it's not speed related.

TX.

[soad]

Hot weather = more vehicles on the roads. Plenty are taking chances too, not fully aware of their surroundings etc.

RIP to those who have passed away.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

Dunbar871 said:

Cyclists have never had much regard to self preservation. No protection, repeatedly cycling through red lights and up the inside of left turning trucks. It’s an absolutely bloody miracle more weren’t killed last weekend tbh…

I can assure you the vast majority do have regard for self preservation. Let's not turn this into yet another anti-cucling thread please.

Edited by TGCOTF-dewey on Tuesday 23 July 06:35

[samoht]

Not to diminish the deaths, but I think you've possibly overcounted by three

Every day a journey said:

...
Two motorcyclists here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnd0en2gzp1o
...
Another - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnd0en2gzp1o

looks like the same link twice

Every day a journey said:

cyclist - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e5xe4gljzo

BBC said:

Emergency services were called to the collision involving a white Volkswagen Passat and blue Giant road bike on Headborough Road at about 16:30 BST on 14 July.

Arguable, but the accident didn't occur this weekend

So that's 15 fatalities in accidents this weekend.

However, there's a suggestion that weekends are more dangerous - the best data I can find is here https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview... which is US based but suggests weekends make up one third of all fatal road accidents.

If applied here that would suggest that we'd expect 1711 / 3 = 570 weekend deaths. Divided by 52 weekends gives ~11 fatalities on the average weekend. To have 15 is probably not that unusual, especially as there are more likely to be cars full of people travelling on a July weekend than say March.

Every death is a tragedy, I think the question is how best to reduce the general rate of accidents further.

[gazza285]

Dunbar871 said:

Cyclists have never had much regard to self preservation. No protection, repeatedly cycling through red lights and up the inside of left turning trucks. It’s an absolutely bloody miracle more weren’t killed last weekend tbh…

[henrycrun]

Average deaths about 5 per day
Average seriously injured about 75 per day

Improvements in vehicle safety systems and medical techniques are offset by drugged drivers and screen(s) distractions

[Pica-Pica]

henrycrun said:

Average deaths about 5 per day
Average seriously injured about 75 per day

Improvements in vehicle safety systems and medical techniques are offset by drugged drivers and screen(s) distractions

From what I understand, drug-driving has surpassed drink-driving.

[J4CKO]

Dunbar871 said:

Cyclists have never had much regard to self preservation. No protection, repeatedly cycling through red lights and up the inside of left turning trucks. It’s an absolutely bloody miracle more weren’t killed last weekend tbh…

Hmm, maybe it’s based on the individual riding the bicycle ?

Maybe you don’t drive like a complete lunatic like some drivers do ?

When I cycle, I

Have a small rear view mirror on my bar end.

I obey traffic regulations, not sure of the rush to get through a red, if you are I that much of a hurry, maybe don’t ride a bicycle for that journey, plus it looks bad, got to keep up appearances !

I plan routes to avoid disruption to traffic and danger to myself.

I wear a helmet.

I wear bright colours.

I ride with quality lights on at all times.

I don’t wear headphones when riding.

I avoid certain times, areas and weather conditions, I.e fog and ice.

I am courteous to drivers, I make eye contact and try to ride defensively and considerately.

I ride a decent bike, maintained to a high standard.

I tend to avoid riding in groups.

But apparently I have no sense of self preservation…

Maybe that’s you looking for an excuse in case you hit someone, put it on them ? Pre emptive strike ?


It is true we have no protection, a plastic hat and some hi viz isn’t much protection, that why you need to have the wits of a bunny rabbit in a bird of prey sanctuary.

Amazes me how some people laugh at cyclists getting hit or killed, just for riding a bicycle, that’s fking weird and cycling won’t stop because you don’t like it, just get a bike and go for a ride.

[Gordon Hill]

rallycross said:

The crash where the family in a focus were killed by a motorbike on the wrong side of the road looks horrific.

Happened a mile from my house, the second horrific accident in a few months.

[tim0409]

Pica-Pica said:

henrycrun said:

Average deaths about 5 per day
Average seriously injured about 75 per day

Improvements in vehicle safety systems and medical techniques are offset by drugged drivers and screen(s) distractions

From what I understand, drug-driving has surpassed drink-driving.

I could easily believe that. I ride a motorbike most days and the number of cars and vans I pass where the driver is smoking cannabis is unreal. I’m always a bit surprised when it’s coming from a works van in the mornings, but then it’s everywhere now. I was behind a car a few weeks ago with a woman driving and a baby in the front seat; a car pulled out in front of her (nothing major and easily avoided) but she went absolutely mental, tailgating then a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre only to brake, presumably to teach the person a lesson. A mile down the road I was behind her at some lights and she was sat there puffing on a joint with the baby next to her. Absolute scum, and with people like her on the road I’m surprised there aren’t more accidents. I took the reg number and reported her to the Police.

OP you can add another motorcycle fatality to the list. The road near me was closed for eight hours whilst the police carried out their investigation. A 21 year old on a 900cc Kawasaki sports bike hit a tanker at 7.30am. I know the stretch of (country) road really well. The tanker was pulling out of a side road, and the biker hit it. Absolutely tragic, but it probably ticks all the boxes for high risk factors for motorcycle fatalities (inexperienced rider on a high power sports bike on a country road/bend)

[Every day a journey]

Add another to the list - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpd9v9ndpkzo