Official figures show Road Fatalities are up 10%

Compared to 2022, the number of deaths on Britain’s rose has risen by 10%. This is according to a new report by the Department for Transport.

Last year there were a total of 1,711 fatalities in the UK. This was an increase on 1,558 in 2021. However, the Department for Transport attributed the increase between 2021 and 2022 to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. The data from before the pandemic in 2019 further supports this. Road fatalities were down 2% in 2022 when compared to pre-pandemic 2019.

There was also a decline in the number of people who were killed or seriously injured (otherwise known as KSI). In 2022 there were 29,742 KSI casualties, down 3% from 2019. The overall number of casualties of all severities was down a massive 12% in 2022 compared to 2019 with a total of 135,480 people injured in road collisions.

UK ranked #5 in Europe

To many, these seem like high numbers. However the UK currently ranks number 5 out of 38 countries in terms of road deaths per million people of population. According to the statistics, 59% of all road deaths occurred on rural roads, and motorways accounted for just 6%.

Despite the fact that we have some of the safest roads in Europe, it’s clear that there is still work to be done when it comes to improve the safety of road users in the UK.

The data also showed that distracted drivers caused more fatal collisions last year than the ten years previously. This resulted in 458 deaths. Speeding drivers also killed 303 people, which is also the highest figure in the last decade.

It would seem then that a good way forward to reduce the number of casualties on the UK’s roads would be to focus on teaching drivers about the dangers of rural roads. This would be in addition to reminding drivers of the importance of not letting themselves be distracted. And – of course – to stick to the speed limits.

Is your car still safe?

Every year the safety of our cars is improving. If you drive an older car then the safety technology won’t be as advanced as in newer cars. This could increase the chances of you or a passenger being seriously injured in the event of a collision. If you’ve been contemplating selling your car and want to know the the best way to do it, we have a selection of articles and advice to help. Not only will you be able to get the most for your car when you come to sell it, you will also be able to get your next car for less.