Road deaths on the rise in Great Britain

The Government has released its latest Road Safety in Great Britain statistics – and it has revealed a growing trend of fatalities.

In 2024, road collisions in Great Britain resulted in an estimated 1,633 deaths, marking a 1% increase from the previous year.

The number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) remained relatively stable at 29,537 when compared to the year-on-year data.

However, total casualties of all severities declined by 3%, falling to 128,375.

In fact, motorcyclists experienced the largest estimated rise in fatalities, with a 9% increase compared to 2023.

Interestingly, despite this rise in deaths, overall casualties among motorcyclists fell by 6%, indicating a complex shift in safety outcomes for this group.

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Road fatalities in Great Britain were distributed across the four main road user types, according to the Government data – car occupants, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and pedal cyclists.

Car occupants accounted for the highest proportion of fatalities at 43%, followed by pedestrians at 25%, motorcyclists at 21%, and pedal cyclists at 5%.

This breakdown highlights that while car occupants remain the most affected group in terms of absolute numbers, vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and motorcyclists also represent a significant share.

Car occupants and pedal cyclists saw a 2% decrease in fatalities compared to 2023, indicating a modest improvement in safety for these users. Meanwhile, pedestrian fatalities rose by 2%, reversing some of the gains made in previous years.

Following the Government publishing its provisional 2024 road casualty statistics, RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “While overall road casualty numbers appear to have reduced slightly year-on-year, alarmingly fatalities have crept up – led by an increase in fatal collisions involving motorcyclists.

“It’s also worrying to see pedestrian fatalities at their highest number since before the pandemic.

“This data is yet more evidence of the need for a renewed focus on saving lives on the roads, so we look forward to the publication of the Government’s road safety strategy."