August is National Road Victim Month in the UK. The annual event was established in 1998 by RoadPeace, the national charity for victims of road accidents. The month of August was chosen in tribute to Diana Princess of Wales, who lost her life in a car crash on 31 August 1997, and to Bridget Driscoll who, in 1896, became the UK's first victim of a fatal road accident.
What is RoadPeace?
RoadPeace, as a charity, provides support and information to people who have been injured or bereaved by car accidents. As well as offering emotional support to traumatised victims, RoadPeace, with its Legal Panel of law firms, also works to assist people in seeking compensation through the legal system. They provide information about police procedures and the workings of court cases. The charity also endeavours to challenge what it calls "society’s complacency towards risk on our roads".
National Road Victim Month is intended to raise awareness of the challenges victims face and the magnitude of the UK's road safety problem.
How serious is the UK's road safety situation?
Historically, road casualty figures make for gloomy reading. Since records began, in 1926, over half a million people have been killed by accidents on British roads. Many of us have known people who have died or been seriously injured in traffic accidents, and many of us have been in vehicles that have been involved in accidents.
Then there are the near-misses, situations that, had it not been for sheer luck, could well have added to that casualty total. How many of us have had to slam on brakes to avoid someone pulling out in front of us, or because a pedestrian suddenly stepped off a kerb? How many have nearly dozed off while driving along a boring stretch of road after a long day? Or skidded on unseen ice?
Accidents are reported every day. People die in them every day.
Casualty numbers
The most recent set of comprehensive data seems to be that released by the government in 2022. According to the figures disclosed:
- In the period 2013 - 2022, (on average) five people died in road accidents and 82 suffered serious injury per day.
- In 2022:
- 1,766 people were killed in UK road accidents.
- 28,942 people were seriously injured in UK road accidents.
- 2022 road accident deaths by type of transport used were:
- Car occupant = 788
- Pedestrian = 385
- Motorcycle rider = 350
- Cyclist = 91
- Bus, truck, van and unknown vehicle occupant = 97
- 2022 serious injuries due to road accident by type of transport used were:
- Car occupant = 10,711
- Pedestrian = 5,901
- Motorcycle rider = 5,618
- Cyclist = 4,056
- Bus, truck, van and unknown vehicle occupant = 1,745
Factors contributing to road accident fatalities
The following figures show the factors identified as contributing to fatal accidents in 2022. It should be noted that these statistics are specifically for road accidents resulting in loss of life, not for road accidents in general.
Contributing factors by percentage:
- Loss of control = 24.4%
- Driver or rider failed to look properly = 22.3%
- Driver or rider careless, reckless or in a hurry = 21.8%
- Exceeding speed limit = 19.7%
- Driver or rider failed to judge other person`s path or speed = 10.7%
- Driver or rider impaired by alcohol = 10.4%
- Poor turn or manoeuvre = 10.3%
- Travelling too fast for conditions = 8.5%
- Aggressive driving = 8.3%
- Driver or rider illness or disability, mental or physical = 8.2%
A note about the contributing factor statistics
Statistics pertaining to the causes of accidents do not give as clear a picture as the casualty figures do; therefore, the reader should bear in mind the likelihood that the numbers are not totally reliable. The uncertainty is due to several things, including the following.
- Contributing factors are only taken into account in those accidents where police attended (about 67% of accidents in 2022).
- The accuracy of information regarding contributing factors can vary according to the experience and ability of the police officer recording it.
- The recording of contributing factors by the attending officer is their opinion based on evidence available to the scene at the time of attendance. Subsequent information or investigation may reveal other factors that were not evident to the recording officer at the time.
Taking action
While there are things government, law enforcement, local authorities and car manufacturers etc can do to reduce the number of accident casualties, the quickest way to see results would be for road users to be more aware of hazards and to behave accordingly. While we wait for the various organisations to implement measures such as speed limits, pedestrian crossing, road surface repairs and improvements to car safety equipment, we can begin to make a difference ourselves.
For a start, consider the following statistics.
- The 2022 figures show that a quarter of vehicle drivers and passengers who died in road accidents during the period 2018 - 2022 weren't wearing seatbelts.
- 221,927 people were found guilty of a speed limit offence in 2022
- In 2023, there were 15,300 prosecutions for 'using or causing others to use a handheld mobile phone whilst driving'.
Much of what we can do is just common sense. Earlier this year, Regtransfers published an article featuring tips on safer driving. Why not take a look?
Further information
For more information about National Road Victim Month and how to get involved, visit the RoadPeace website.
