The DfT has published its final reported road casualty statistics for Great Britain for 2025, confirming a reduction in road deaths but a rise in the number of people killed or seriously injured.
The figures show that 1,556 people were killed on Britain’s roads during 2025 – 46 fewer than in 2024, representing a 3% reduction.
However, the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) increased by 4% to 29,911, while the total number of reported casualties remained broadly unchanged at 127,870.
Compared with 2015, the longer-term picture remains one of improvement. Fatalities have fallen by 10%, KSIs by 7%, and total reported casualties by 31%, largely driven by reductions in slight injuries.
However, the latest figures suggest progress has slowed in recent years, with serious injuries moving in the wrong direction despite the continued fall in fatalities.
First benchmark against new Road Safety Strategy
The publication provides the first full annual casualty dataset since the Government launched its new Road Safety Strategy in January 2026, introducing national casualty reduction targets for the first time in more than a decade.
The strategy commits to reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured by 65% by 2035, alongside a 70% reduction in child KSIs, against a 2022-2024 baseline.
A rise in the total number of KSIs is also matched by an increase in a number of reported child KSI casualties (under 16). The 2025 figure of 2,432 represents an increase of 3% compared with the 2022 to 2024 baseline average of 2,353.
The strategy also adopts a Safe System approach, recognising that while human error cannot be eliminated, the transport system should be designed so that mistakes do not result in death or life-changing injury.
Against that backdrop, the 2025 figures provide an early indication of the scale of the task ahead. While fewer people lost their lives on Britain’s roads last year, almost 30,000 people were killed or seriously injured, demonstrating that substantial and sustained action will be required if the 2035 targets are to be achieved.
Mixed picture across road user groups
The DfT figures reveal differing trends across road user groups.
Among the headline findings:
- Motorcyclist fatalities increased by 13% to 384, marking the second consecutive annual rise.
- Pedestrian fatalities fell by 9% to 372.
- Car occupant fatalities fell by 8% to 638.
- Pedal cycle casualties increased by 10% to 16,027, the largest percentage increase in total casualties among the main road user groups.
- Cyclist KSIs also increased by 14%, while cyclist fatalities remained broadly unchanged.
The department notes that annual casualty numbers can fluctuate and should be interpreted alongside longer-term trends. Nevertheless, the increase in serious casualties among vulnerable road users will be a concern for road safety professionals.
The statistics also show that:
- 77% of people killed on Britain’s roads in 2025 were male.
- 61% of all casualties were male.
- Men continue to account for a disproportionate number of fatalities across almost every road user group.
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