Road deaths in Great Britain fell by 2% last year to the second lowest annual total on record. Data published by the Department for Transport shows there were 1732 fatalities last year, down from 1775 the year before. In 2005 the figure was as high as 3201.

 

Fatalities among pedal cyclists fell from 113 to 100, the number of pedestrians killed on the roads reduced from 446 to 409 and the number of car occupants killed fell from 797 to 755. 

 

But road safety campaigners have expressed concern that fatalities among motorcyclists and occupants of goods vehicles both increased since 2014. Statistics show that motorcycle deaths increased 8% last year from 339 to 365 and deaths of persons in goods vehicles rose from 47 to 65.  

 

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart’s director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “Key trends still show the increasing risk to vulnerable road users, particularly motorcyclists, and big increases in fatal crashes involving vans and lorries. Government must show more leadership to really drive down road deaths in the future.”

 

Separate figures from Transport for London show that in the capital the number of people killed on the roads increased by 7% from 127 to 136 last year. However cycling safety improved slightly, with nine fatalities last year compared to 13 the year before.

 

London Assembly Green Party member Caroline Russell said: “The Mayor must prioritise reducing road danger and safeguard the road safety budget when he re-writes Transport for London’s business plan.”

 

(Photo: West Midlands Police)