Road deaths and casualties fell slightly in 2002

The latest road casualty figures published today by the Department of Transport have shown that, despite increasing road traffic volumes, both the death toll and casualties on British roads decreased slightly in 2002.

The statistics revealed that there were 302,605 road casualties in Great Britain in 2002, 3% fewer than in 2001, and 39,407 people were killed or seriously injured in 2002, also 3% less than that in 2001.

In all 3,431 people were killed, a fall of under 1% compared to 2001, 35,976 were seriously injured (down 3% on 2001) and 263,198 were slightly injured (down 4%).

One of the largest decreases was in the number of children killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads, a figure 33% below the 1994-98 average. Child casualties fell by 9% and the number of children killed or seriously injured in 2002 was 4,596 - down 8% on 2001. Of those children injured, 2,828 were pedestrians, 10% down on 2001. However, while there were 179 children killed in road accidents, this was 18% less than in 2001.

This is the lowest figure for 20 years and was attributed to the large decrease in the number of child pedestrians who died.

The overall volume of road traffic was 3% higher than in 2001 and consequently, the casualty rate calculated per 100 million vehicle kilometres was 6% lower than in 2001.

The 2002 statistics recorded 221,751 road accidents involving personal injury, which was 3% less than in 2001. Of these accidents, 33,645 involved death or serious injury.

In 2002, the number of people killed or seriously injured was 17% below the 1994-98 average.

(SP)