UK road deaths hit five-year high
Number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities have also risen
The number of people killed on the UK’s roads has reached a five-year high, according to new government statistics.
New figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) show that 1,792 people were killed in collisions last year – a rise of four per cent on 2015’s results and the highest registered total since 2011.
On average, this equates to five people losing their lives each day.
The number of pedestrian fatalities also increased, rising to 448 in 2016 – a 10 per cent increase on 2015’s figure.
Cyclist fatalities were similarly up 10 per cent on 2015’s figure, with 319 deaths registered in 2016.
Road safety charities were quick to respond to the increases, with Brake’s director of campaigns, Jason Wakeford, saying: “Today’s figures graphically illustrate the daily carnage taking place on roads across Britain. On average, five people continue to lose their lives each and every day – a deeply worrying figure which has not improved for some six years.”
However, the DfT claims that the findings are not “statistically significant” and puts the increase down to “natural variations”.
Edmund King, AA president, commented on the findings, saying: “It is of great concern that road deaths in Great Britain seem to have plateaued out over the last five years. Five deaths per day is totally unacceptable.
“A total of 1,792 people were killed in reported road traffic crashes, which represents an increase of 62 fatalities or four per cent from 2015. Whilst the increase may not be ‘statistically significant’ it is certainly significant to the 62 individuals and their families.”
The DfT believes there is a variety of underlying factors behind road casualties, including the distance people travel, the mixture of transport methods used and the behaviour of other drivers, riders and pedestrians.
