DEPARTMENT FOR
TRANSPORT News Release (074 (TR-015)) issued by The Government News
Network on 28 June 2007
Revised Copy
The Department for Transport has today published National
Statistics on road casualties in Great Britain in 2006, which
relate to casualties in accidents reported to the police. Key
results include:
* The number of people killed in road accidents fell, by 1 per
cent from 3,201 in 2005 to 3,172 in 2006. 31,845 people were
killed or seriously injured in 2006, 1 per cent fewer than in
2005. There were 258,404 road casualties in Great Britain in 2006,
5 per cent less than in 2005.
* Child casualties fell by 9 per cent. The number of children
killed or seriously injured in 2006 was 3,294 (down 5 per cent on
2005). Of those, 2,025 were pedestrians, 5 per cent down on 2005.
169 children died on the roads, 20 per cent more than in 2005,
this was about the same level as 2004 (166) which at that time was
the lowest ever recorded figure.
* Provisional figures indicate that road traffic levels rose by 1
per cent compared to 2005 and the provisional estimate is that the
overall casualty rate per 100 million vehicle kilometres (45 per
100 million vehicle kms) was 6 per cent lower than in 2005 (48
casualties per 100 million vehicle kms).
* There were 675 pedestrian deaths, 1 per cent more than in 2005.
Killed or serious injured casualties fell by 1 per cent to 7,051.
The all pedestrian casualty figure fell to 30,982 in 2006, 7 per
cent lower than 2005.
* The number of pedal cyclists killed fell by 1 per cent from 148
in 2005 to 146 in 2006. The number of seriously injured rose by 4
per cent to 2,296. However, total casualties among pedal cyclists
fell by 2 per cent in 2006 to 16,196.
* There were 599 motorcycle user fatalities in 2006, 5 per cent
higher than during 2005. The number of killed or seriously injured
remained at about the same level compared to 2005 (down less than
1 percent from 6,508 in 2005 to 6,484 in 2006). The all motorcycle
user casualties figure for 2006 of 23,326 is 6 per cent less than
in 2005.
* The number of deaths among car users in 2006 was 1,612, 4 per
cent less than in the previous year. The number seriously injured
fell by 2 per cent to 12,642. Total casualties among car users
were 171,000, 4 per cent lower than 2005. Provisional traffic
estimates indicate a 1 per cent rise in car and taxi traffic over
the period.
* There were 189,161 road accidents involving personal injury in
2006, 5 per cent fewer than in 2005. Of these, 27,872 accidents
involved death or serious injury, less than 1 percent fewer than
in 2005 (27,942).
In 2000, the Government announced a new road safety strategy and
set new targets for reducing casualties by 2010. It wants to see:
* 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously
injured in road accidents compared with the average for 1994-98;
* 50% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured;
* 10% reduction in the slight casualty rate, expressed as the
number of people slightly injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres.
In 2006, the number of people killed or seriously injured was 33
per cent below the 1994-98
average; the number of children killed or seriously injured was
52 per cent below the 1994-98
average; and provisional estimates show the slight casualty rate
was 26 per cent below the 1994-98 average.
Notes for Editors
These figures, and further details, are available in statistics
bulletin Road Casualties Great Britain: 2006 - Main Results,
obtainable from The Department for Transport, TSR5, Zone 2/18,
Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR or on the
website http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/162469/221412/221549/231414/rcgbq42006.pdf.
A more comprehensive analysis of casualty statistics will be
published later this year in Road Casualties Great Britain: 2006.
1. The statistics relate to personal injury accidents on public
roads that are reported to the police. Figures for deaths refer to
persons killed immediately or who died within 30 days of the
accident. This is the usual international definition, adopted by
the Vienna Convention in 1968. Similar statistics of deaths on
public roads, but compiled by date of registration, are published
by the Registrars General.
2. Very few, if any, fatal accidents do not become known to the
police. However, research conducted on behalf of the Department in
the 1990s has shown that a significant proportion of non-fatal
injury accidents are not reported to the police. In addition some
casualties reported to the police are not recorded and the
severity of injury tends to be underestimated. The Department is
undertaking further research to investigate whether the levels of
reporting have changed. Further information on reporting levels
and links to recent research can be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/roadaccidentstatisticsingrea1835
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 3000
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk