Cuts to road safety funding urgently need to be reversed, according to motoring and pedestrian groups, after Government figures released last week show an increase in the number of walkers and cyclists dying on the roads.

Over 6000 people on foot and nearly 3300 cyclists were killed or seriously injured in the year to September 2012, an increase of six and eight percent respectively on the previous year. Motorcyclist casualties increased by 4%.

“This should be a wake up call to the Government that slashing road safety budgets is not the answer,” said Tony Armstrong of the urban realm charity Living Streets. “The case for lower speed limits on our roads, particularly to protect more vulnerable pedestrians, such as older people and children, is now compelling. Introducing 20MPH speed limits where we live, work, shop and play has been shown to reduce child pedestrian deaths by 70%.”

Total number of road fatalities fell by 7% to 1760 over the last year according to the figures. But the number of people both killed and seriously injured on the roads increased by 2% to 24,860. Fatal and serious incidents fell by 2% on major roads, but rose by 5% on minor roads and those in built up areas.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists called for Government to reinstate funding for road safety campaigns and education to help combat the rise in road casualties among cyclists and pedestrians. It also said changes should be made to the driving test to ensure new drivers are made more aware of vulnerable road users.

“The rise in the number of fatal and serious accidents on minor and built up roads are concerning,” said the IAM’s director of policy and research Neil Greig. “Government needs to think about which roads are the safest and where they should be dedicating their resources.”

Photo credit Hayley Green

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