Reported road casualties in Great Britain: 2016 annual report

This annual report shows there were 1,792 reported road deaths in 2016, a year-on-year rise of 4%.

The 2016 figures show an increase of 62 fatalities – and the highest annual road deaths total since 2011.

The DfT describes the increase as ‘statistically insignificant’ and says ‘it is likely that that natural variation in the figures explains the change’.

There was also a rise in the number of child (15 years or under) road deaths – up 28% to 69. This figure is the highest since 2009 – although the DfT points out that child fatalities have ‘fluctuated between 48 and 69 over 2010 to 2016 with no clear trend’.

The total number of serious injuries also rose to 24,101. However, because of a change in system for reporting by some police forces, the DfT says this figure should not be compared to previous years.

Casualties of all severities fell by 3% to 181,384 in 2016 – the lowest level on record. The DfT describes this fall as statistically significant.

Looking at road user type, car occupants accounted for 816 fatalities – equating to 46% of the total, and an 8% year-on-year rise.

The biggest rise in deaths was seen among pedestrians. 448 deaths represents 25% of the 2016 total and a 10% year-on-year rise.

The number of cyclist fatalities also rose, up 2% to 102 (6% share). However, the number of motorcyclist deaths fell by 13% to 319 (18% share).

Despite the rise in child fatalities, the total number of casualties among this group fell by 1% to 15,976. Of those, 38% were pedestrians with 22% occurring between 3-5pm, and 14% between 7-9am, on a weekday – at times when children are travelling to and from school.

The number of road deaths among older people (60 years and over) also rose, up 8% to 533.

The 2016 casualty figures come against a backdrop of a 2.2% year-on-year rise in motor traffic levels.