The UK road network ‘one of the safest in the world’
A Highways England statement claims that the UK road network is one of the safest in the world despite a rise in deaths from 2017 to 2018
THE DfT’s Reported Road Casualties report has been published and shows a reduction in collisions and casualties in 2018 on the UK road network. The statement comes despite a reported rise in Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) cases which rose by 5.9% for deaths and 7.4% for serious injuries.
The DfT’s report outlines the data of reported road casualties in 2018. It provides the number of personal injury road traffic accidents in Great Britain that were reported by the police in 2018 using the STATS19 reporting system. It also includes the number of people killed or injured in these accidents and which road user group they were in.
Headline stats for motorcyclists still show that we are by far, the most vulnerable group on the roads, with 5,674 casualties per billion passenger miles and 119.7 fatalities per billion passenger miles. The stats backup Visordown's feeling that not enough money, time and consideration is given to motorcyclists from the rule-makers in parliament.
The total number of motorcycle-related deaths on the UK road network in 2018 was 354, up 1% on 2017 accident stats. It also shows that motorcycle-related fatalities make up 20% of the national total, despite the fact that we take up a far smaller proportion of the UK roads at any given time.
The report does show that motorcycle casualties overall have decreased by 7% between 2017 and 2018, with 16,783 reported casualties in total.
Highways England’s Head of Road Safety Richard Leonard said:
“Our aim is to provide a network where no one is killed or injured while travelling on our roads – today’s report indicates there is still much more that needs to be done. The numbers are very concerning and while over the last 15 years safety has improved and our roads are amongst the safest in the world, each incident is a tragedy for the individuals and the families involved.
“Improving road safety needs safe roads, safe vehicles and safe drivers. Safety is our top priority and we’re working hard to improve England’s motorway and A roads and we need your help. We all have a role to play to make sure we all get home, safe and well and we’re asking all drivers to make their own safety, and that of other people, the most important thing to think about when they travel. Remember to check your vehicle, obey all signs and think about other drivers.”
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
