Fall in road deaths welcome - but much work ahead to achieve Vision Zero
The Road Safety Trust is encouraged to see a fall in the number of people killed on Great Britain’s roads during 2023.
Government statistics, published on 26 September, confirm there were 1,624 road fatalities last year, a decline of 5% compared to 2022.
There was also a year-on-year decrease in the total number of casualties, down 2% to 132,977.
Meanwhile, 29,711 killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties represents little change compared to 2022.
Considering road collision rates per billion miles travelled, the final figures show there were five road fatalities per billion vehicle miles travelled in 2023, down 7% compared to 2022.
The Road Safety Trust welcomes the fall in the number of fatalities, but stresses there is still much work to do to achieve the ultimate goal of zero deaths or serious injuries on the road network.
The Trust is calling for policy changes in key areas, as outlined by the PACTS manifesto earlier this year.
These are:
Developing a National Road Safety Strategy - Implement a Safe System Strategy focused on prevention, protection, and post-collision response, coupled with evidence-based targets and robust safety performance indicators.
Establishing a Road Safety Investigation Branch - An independent body modelled after existing transportation safety branches to analyse road incidents and provide actionable insights for preventing future tragedies.
Introducing Graduated Driver Licencing - A progressive licensing system to support young drivers by limiting high-risk driving situations, a measure proven to reduce fatalities by up to 40%.
Adopting Advanced Vehicle Safety Regulations - Immediate implementation of the world-leading vehicle safety standards, mandating critical technologies such as Automatic Emergency Braking and Intelligent Speed Assistance.
Ruth Purdie OBE, Chief Executive of The Road Safety Trust, said: “The reduction in road deaths last year is certainly a positive step and a reflection of the hard work of road safety professionals who are dedicated to achieving Vision Zero.
"However, the number of people losing their lives or being injured on our roads is still unacceptably high. Much more needs to be done to bring down these figures further.
“We must push for significant policy changes, including the introduction of Graduated Driver Licensing and the development of a comprehensive National Road Safety Strategy."
The Government statistics were released on the same day that The Road Safety Trust launched its Autumn 2024 funding round, focused on the theme Inequalities in Road Safety.
While road safety affects everyone, inequalities based on health, age, sex and gender, socio-economic status and geographic location mean that road use is not equally safe for all.
This grant programme seeks to identify and address those disparities in order to save lives and reduce injuries on UK roads.
Applications are open from today, 26 September, until 1 November.
26 September 2024