Organisation: Department for Transport
Date uploaded: 8th October 2019
Date published/launched: September 2019
The DfT’s annual casualty statistics show 1,784 people were killed on roads in Great Britain in 2018 – down 1% from the 1,793 reported in 2017.
However, the 2018 figure is similar to those recorded in 2012 – when there were 1,754 road deaths.
The DfT stats also show there were 25,511 serious injuries in 2018 – up by 3% from 2017 (24,831). However, the DfT points out that this figure is not comparable to earlier years due to changes in casualty reporting methods, introduced in 2016.
In contrast, the total number of road casualties fell to its lowest level in 2018 – down 6% to 160,597.
Looking at road user type, car occupants accounted for 44% of road deaths in 2018 (777), pedestrians 26% (456), motorcyclists 20% (354) and pedal cyclists 6% (99).
Of the 777 car occupants killed, 26% were found not to be wearing a seatbelt – equating to more than 200 deaths. It is the second consecutive year this figure has been more than a quarter – following the 27% reported in 2017.
Meanwhile, the percentage of fatalities in collisions with ‘exceeding the speed limit’ or ‘travelling too fast for conditions’ as a contributory factor has fallen below 20% for the first time since 2010.
In 2018, speed was a factor in 18% of road deaths – a year-on-year fall of 2% – and 6% below the 2010-14 baseline figures (24%).
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