Death toll on British roads rises by 2% in 2003

The number of deaths on Britain's roads rose by 2% between 2002 and 2003, according to the latest figures released from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) today.

Statistics found that road deaths were up from 3,431 in 2002 to 3,508 in 2003. However, the total number of people killed or seriously injured fell by 6% to 37,215 people.

Overall, there were 290,607 road casualties in Great Britain in 2003 – 4% fewer than in 2002.

Child casualties fell by 8% in 2003 to 4,100 (down 11% on 2002), and of those, 2,381 were pedestrians, which was 16% down on 2002. There were 171 child fatalities, 4% fewer than in 2002.

There was a 6% drop in pedestrian casualties, down to 36,405 in 2003, and the total number of pedal cyclists casualties fell marginally in 2003 to 17,033.

However, road safety messages are not getting through to motorbike and moped users. There were 28,411 casualties in 2003, 58 more than in 2002. The number of seriously injured increased by 1% to 6,959 but the number killed increased by 14% to 693.

And 2003 saw 1,769 car users killed; while this was 1% more than in the previous year, the number of seriously injured fell by 9% to 15,522.

A snapshot of casualty trends over the decade found that road users were broadly heeding safety advice. In 2003, the number of people killed or seriously injured was 22% below the 1994-98 average; the number of children killed or seriously injured seriously injured was 40% below the 1994-98 average; and the slight casualty rate was 17% below the 1994-98 average.

The figures show that the government is heading in the right direction to achieve its road safety targets. By 2010, the government wants to see: 40% fewer people killed or seriously injured compared with the average for 1994-98; and 50% fewer children killed or seriously injured.

(gmcg)