DfT data shows road fatalities are down but there is still ‘room for improvement’

The Department for Transport (DfT) have released its annual report on road casualties – and the data shows that the number has fallen over the past 12 months.

Since records started in 1979, the data shows that there has been a general downward trend in the number of people killed on roads in Great Britain.

However, the trend has flattened in the decade since 2010.

This year’s report has shown that in 2023, road casualties showed a decline from 2022.

According to the DfT, this marks a return to the numbers seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The final estimates for 2023 revealed that there were 1,624 fatalities on the roads in Great Britain. This represents a decline of 5% compared to 2022.

There were also 29,711people who were deemed as ‘killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties’ in 2023. This was very similar to the data the previous year.

In total, there were 132,977 casualties of all severities – a decline of 2% compared to 2022.

When it comes to road collision rates per billion miles travelled, the final estimates show that 334 billion vehicle miles travelled in 2023, a return to travel levels seen in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new report showed that there were five road fatalities per billion vehicle miles travelled in 2023. This is a drop of 7% compared to 2022.

• Dangerous driving – what is it and how to report it
• Drink driving in the UK – statistics and data
• What to do after a car accident – should you say sorry?

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: "Thankfully, this latest data shows overall casualty and fatality levels are down compared to 12 months earlier, and significantly down on a decade ago – despite a return to the number of miles being driven pre-pandemic.

“It also confirms that motorways are safer than any other type of road, especially compared to rural roads.

“But behind the headline figures there are some important points to note, such as the fact that men are far more likely to be killed or injured on our roads than women, and that pedestrian fatalities and those involving young people appear to be rising.

“Britain might have an enviable international reputation when it comes to road safety, but this latest data still shows there’s room for improvement.

“We hope the new government’s forthcoming road safety strategy will help to reduce fatality and casualty numbers further.”