Thursday 30th September 2004

Road deaths rise in latest figures

Numbers seriously injured fall but drink-drive deaths rise

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The Department for Transport has today published National Statistics on road casualties in Great Britain for 2003. It contains final figures giving detailed information on the number of people killed and injured on the roads in Great Britain in 2003, based on information about accidents reported to the police.

Key points are:

• 3,508 people were killed on Britain's roads in 2003, two per cent more than in 2002. The number of people seriously injured fell to 33,707, six per cent lower than in 2002. Total casualties in 2003 were 290,607, four per cent fewer than in 2002
• Eight (sic) fewer children were killed on the roads in 2003 than in 2002, a fall of four per cent. The total number of children killed or seriously injured fell by 11 per cent
• Provisional estimates indicate that the number of deaths in accidents involving drink driving was two per cent higher than in 2002. Final estimates will be available next year. Total casualties in drink drive accidents fell by an estimated five per cent
• Pedestrian casualties fell by six per cent between 2002 and 2003 and the number of killed or seriously injured pedestrians was down eight per cent. Thirteen per cent of all road accident casualties and 22 per cent of those who died in road accidents were pedestrians
• In 2003, the number of casualties among users of two wheeled motor vehicles rose slightly compared with 2002 and the number of deaths rose by 14 per cent to 693. Serious injuries rose by one per cent. However, the overall casualty rate per hundred million vehicle kilometres fell by nine per cent because of increases in traffic
• Pedal cyclist casualties fell slightly. The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured fell by 2 per cent overall, and the number of fatalities fell by 12 per cent. Pedal cyclist casualty rates per hundred million vehicle kilometres also fell and are now at the lowest for more than 10 years.

The report provides more detailed information about accident circumstances, vehicle involvement and the consequent casualties in 2003, along with some of the key trends in accidents and casualties. There are also three articles.

The first article monitors progress towards the Governments casualty reduction targets for 2010. These are:

• 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents compared with the average for 1994-98
• 50 per cent reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured
• 10 per cent reduction in the slight casualty rate, expressed as the number of people slightly injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres.

In 2003 the number of people killed or seriously injured in accidents reported to the police was 22 per cent below the 1994-98 average; the number of children killed or seriously injured was 40 per cent below the 1994-98 average; and the slight casualty rate was 16 per cent below the 1994-98 average.

Other articles cover casualties in accidents involving drink driving and the summary findings of a pilot exercise to identify contributory factors to accidents.

The full report is available here.

[Idris]

I have casualty data back to 1989 in graph or data form, deaths back to 1926 and other data on traffic, vehicles etc

Last 10 years - speed camera decade - has been worst ever in terms of % fatality reduction
Idris

[Sgt^Roc]

Idris said:

I have casualty data back to 1989 in graph or data form, deaths back to 1926 and other data on traffic, vehicles etc Last 10 years - speed camera decade - has been worst ever in terms of % fatality reduction Idris

yes but speed account foe 1 in 3 deaths but I read on Pual Smiths webpage "I think" 2 thirds of accidents occur below the posted speed limits so why are they policingeverything above that?

[Sgt^Roc]

LOOK 40% REDUCTION IN DEATH BY 2010 = 1 IN 3 ACCISENTS CAUSED BY SPEED SEE IT MABY THATS WHERE THIS FIGURE CAME FROM, YEP i BET THEY THOUGHT STICK THE CAMERA UP EVERY WHERE AND PEOPLE WILL SLOW DOWN = LESS DEATHS AND LOADS OF MONEY AS WELL SO WOTS GONE WRONG THEN???

[V8 Archie]

Sgt^Roc said:

LOOK 40% REDUCTION IN DEATH BY 2010 = 1 IN 3 ACCISENTS CAUSED BY SPEED SEE IT MABY THATS WHERE THIS FIGURE CAME FROM, YEP i BET THEY THOUGHT STICK THE CAMERA UP EVERY WHERE AND PEOPLE WILL SLOW DOWN = LESS DEATHS AND LOADS OF MONEY AS WELL SO WOTS GONE WRONG THEN???

Your CAPS LOCK?