New Government data shows there were 1,602 road fatalities in 2024, a decline of 1% compared to 2023.
The final estimates, published on 25 September, also highlight a decrease in the number of KSI casualties, as well as casualties of all severities.
The number of KSI casualties fell by 1% to 29,467 in 2024, while there was a 4% drop in the number of total casualties – down to 128,272.
The final estimates also show there were 4.7 road fatalities per billion vehicle miles travelled in 2024, down 3% compared to 2023
Meanwhile, of the four major road user types, the group with the most fatalities was car occupants with 692 fatalities. This is down 5% from the 725 reported in 2023.
There were also a fall in the number of cyclists killed – down 6% to 82.
However, there was an 8% increase in the number of motorcyclists killed (340) and a 1% rise in the number of pedestrian fatalities (409).
In 2024, 76% of fatalities and 61% of casualties of all severities were male.
Rod Dennis, RAC road safety spokesperson, said: “While the latest data shows road casualties came down very slightly last year, this masks a harsh truth that can’t be ignored – that, on average four people are killed, and a further 76 seriously injured, every single day in Great Britain.
“Britain might still have an enviable safety record compared to some other countries, but the simple fact is that casualties aren’t falling at a fast enough rate anymore.
“The Government has long trailed its forthcoming road safety strategy, so we look forward to seeing how this can bring casualty numbers down further.”
Hi Graham.
Well we have looked at the Welsh data for the 12 months (Oct 23 to Sep24) immediately after the implementation of the 20mph in Wales and compared the pedestrian casualties in Wales for the same pool of 20mph/30mph roads the year before. We find :-
Year, Killed, Serious, Slight, Total
Oct 22 to Sep 23, 13, 145, 387, 545
Oct 23 to Sep 24, 10, 105, 300, 415
You may draw your own conclusions from this, but I think most people would consider it a success.
Rod King, Lymm
+2
Hi Rod,
Did you note the slight increase to pedestrian fatalities which would appear to be in conflict with the advertised success of the Welsh experiment across the whole of GB? Nothing imagined there!
Ben
Ben Graham, Reading
0
“I imagine tinkering with speed limits leading to the unintended consequence of drivers assuming they are safe at that speed and switching off has made no difference.”
I think that “evidence” is a better guide than “imagining” Ben. See the article on Welsh casualties reducing by 25% after “tinkering” with the urban/village speed limit. https://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/wales-default-20mph-continues-to-lead-to-fall-in-casualties/
Its good to see Road Safety Factors for fatal collisions now included with 59% being where speed was a factor.
By all means lets work together to make meaningful differences, but perhaps try not to diss those changes which have made significant differences already.
MR ROD KING, Lymm, Cheshire
--1
Do you remember the decade of road safety, 2000 to 2010? Agencies working together to make meaningful differences leading to a 46% reduction in fatalities. I would suggest a 1% drop in a year (about 6% over 10 years) is owed entirely to manufacturers making vehicles harder to crash and collisions more survivable rather than better driving – I imagine tinkering with speed limits leading to the unintended consequence of drivers assuming they are safe at that speed and switching off has made no difference. The idea of focusing on reducing the consequences of a crash rather than avoiding one is questionable.
The Labour Party – who oversaw the Decade of Road Safety – are looking to do something again, which is welcome news. Motorcyclists are over represented in stats (not helped by these illegal devices we see everywhere being lumped in with them), and Motorcycle Action Group have put together ‘Welcoming Roads’ which is to help ALL road users – worth a look.
https://mag-uk.org/welcoming-roads/
Ben Graham, Reading
+4