Targets needed to hit road safety goals
New casualty reduction targets need to be introduced if the recent increase in people being hurt on the roads is not to be repeated.
On Thursday (24 September) the government will release detailed casualty figures for 2014. These will show that last year in Great Britain 1,775 people died on the roads (a 4% increase on the year before). 22,807 more were seriously injured (a 5% annual increase).
While today’s casualty figures are still significantly below those seen when the coalition government came to power, much of the reduction came in 2010, the general election year, and the 2014 rise is the second in the last four years.
The figures come against a backdrop of reduced spending on road safety at local level and a concern that the lack of a national target has led to a lack of focus and loss of impetus particularly in England.
A survey of 34 English local authorities found that when it came to road safety:
- 85% thought the changes in resources and capacity since 2010 had had a negative impact
- 76% thought the changes in national leadership and strategy were detrimental
- 60% rated progress in road safety overall as poor
The figures are revealed in Road Safety Since 2010 published by the RAC Foundation and PACTS, and compiled by PACTS and Road Safety Analysis. An interim report was published in May 2015.
