This week data was released on Reported road casualties in Great Britain, - providing provisional results for 2021.

These provisional statistics show:
• an estimated 1,560 reported road deaths in 2021, a reduction of 12% from the 2017 to 2019 average
• an estimated 27,300 killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties in 2021, a reduction of 13% from the 2017 to 2019 average
• an estimated 127,967 casualties of all severities in 2021, a reduction of 21% from the 2017 to 2019 average
• there were increases in casualties of all severities in 2021 compared with 2020, though pedal cyclists showed a reduction in fatalities (20%)
• there are age and sex differences in casualty trends, with female fatalities aged 70 and over showing a particularly large reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic (36% reduction in 2021 compared with the 2017 to 2019 average)
• monthly changes in casualties generally showed a similar trend to changes in motor traffic levels

Also included was a factsheet on E-scooter casualties.

To listen to an interview with David G Davies PhD FCIHT, Executive Director, Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS).

David Davies has a background in sustainable transport, road safety and public sector scrutiny. His PhD in transport planning led to his appointment as transport policy officer at Birmingham City Council. He then worked as a consultant in UK and Hong Kong before forming David Davies Associates, which specialised in sustainable transport, including five years at the Transport Research Lab.

In 2003 he moved to the Audit Commission, undertaking transport and environment inspections and performance assessments of local authorities.


In 2007 he moved to the House of Commons Transport Committee, managing inquiries into road safety, aviation, high-speed rail, ports and bus competition. He has been the Executive Director of PACTS since January 2013 where he promotes effective casualty and danger reduction measures and integration of safety with wider environmental and sustainability polices.

References:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-provisional-results-2021/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-provisional-results-2021

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-e-scooter-factsheet-2021/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-e-scooter-factsheet-2021-provisional

https://www.pacts.org.uk/vaccine-for-vehicles-preventing-deaths-and-injuries-on-uk-roads-pacts-briefing-january-2022/

https://www.pacts.org.uk/the-safety-of-private-e-scooters-in-the-uk-pacts-research/

https://www.pacts.org.uk/pacts-report-what-kills-most-on-the-roads-2/

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/feb/06/i-didnt-take-covid-seriously-admits-leading-statistician-david-spiegelhalter

https://www.ciht.org.uk/news/global-road-safety/

https://www.ciht.org.uk/news/smart-motorways/