Facts & Figures

Click HERE to view 2009 Statistics

 Death and injury figures for 2008

In 2008, at least 240,456 people were reported killed or injured on UK roads.

2,645 people were killed.

27,024 were seriously injured.

210,787 were slightly injured.

Deaths of people in cars down (12 per cent)

Deaths of people on foot down (11 per cent)

Deaths of motorcyclists down (16 per cent)

Deaths of pedal cyclists down (15 per cent)  

• The number of fatalities fell for almost all types of road user, with a fall of 12 per cent for car occupants, 11 per cent for pedestrians, 16 per cent for motorcyclists and 15 per cent for pedal cyclists.
• The number of reported killed or seriously injured casualties was 40 per cent lower;
• The number of children killed or seriously injured was 59 per cent lower; and
• The slight casualty rate was 36 per cent lower.
• Overall traffic rose by an estimated 16 per cent.  

 Road casualties Despite this progress, there is no room for complacency. In 2008, at least 240,456 people were reported killed or hurt on UK roads. Of these:

While most figures on the numbers of deaths are thought to be accurate, the Government confirmed in September 2009 that it has routinely under-estimated injuries on Britain's roads by only taking into account casualties reported by police and not those by hospitals. Injuries are now thought to be three times higher than previously reported; 800,000 in 2008, rather than 231,000.

This means that every 39 seconds someone is hurt or killed on Britain's roads

Contributory factors to road accidents

Failed to look properly was again the most frequently reported contributory factor and was reported in 37 per cent of all accidents reported to the police in 2008. Four of the five most frequently reported contributory factors involved driver or rider error or reaction. For fatal accidents the most frequently reported contributory factor was loss of control, which was involved in 32 per cent of fatal accidents.

Fourteen per cent of accidents had a speed related contributory factor reported, either exceeding the speed limit or travelling too fast for conditions. This rose to 24 per cent for fatal accidents, accounting for 25 per cent of all road deaths. Twenty three per cent of fatalities in these accidents were motorcyclists. Young drivers were more likely to have a speed related contributory factor reported than those over 25, and more than four times as many male drivers had a speed factor reported as female drivers. Forty one per cent of male fatalities aged 16-25 were in accidents where a speed factor was reported.

• All Figures and percentages are approximate as there are slight variations in figures presented by different departments