Road Accidents 2000

"Road Accidents Great Britain 2000 - The Casualty Report", recently published, contains detailed information on casualties in personal injury road accidents in Great Britain in 2000, supplementing the summary statistics released on 14 June 2001. Key points are:

* 3,409 people were killed on Britain's roads in 2000. This was 14 fewer than in 1999. Road deaths account for nearly 30 per cent of all accidental deaths. The number of people seriously injured fell to 38,155 in 2000, 2 per cent lower than in 1999. Total casualties in 2000 were 320,283, about the same level as in 1999;

*The number of children killed or seriously injured fell by 9 per cent between 1999 and 2000. About half of accidental deaths among children are due to road accidents;

* Provisional estimates indicate that the number of deaths in accidents involving drink driving was over 10 per cent higher in 2000 than in 1999. Total casualties in drink drive accidents rose by an estimated 7 per cent;

* Pedestrian casualties fell by 2 per cent between 1999 and 2000 and the number of killed or seriously injured casualties was down 3 per cent. 13 per cent of all road accident casualties and a quarter of those who died in road accidents were pedestrians;

* In 2000, the number of casualties among users of two wheeled motor vehicles rose by 8 per cent and the number of deaths increased by 11 per cent to 605;

* Pedal cyclist casualties in 2000 fell by 10 per cent from the 1999 level. The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured fell by 13 per cent.

This casualty report provides more detailed information about accident circumstances, vehicle involvement and the consequent casualties. It also shows some of the important trends in numbers of accidents and casualties. Four articles are included this year which, respectively:-

* provide a final review of casualty trends against 2000 casualty reduction targets;

* monitor initial progress against new 2010 casualty reduction targets;

* report on trends in drink-driving statistics; and

* assess the impact of safety cameras on road casualties.

The first article shows that the Government's previous target, for a one-third reduction in road casualties by 2000 compared with a baseline of the 1981-85 average, was achieved for serious injuries by 1992 and for road deaths by 1994. A strong growth in road traffic

over the period contributed to a 15 per cent increase in slight casualties, so this target was not met. Total casualties in 2000 were only 0.5 per cent below the baseline average.

The second article monitors progress towards new casualty reduction targets for 2010 and compares road casualty statistics in 2000 with the 1994-98 averages. In 2000 the number of people killed or seriously injured was 13 per cent below the 1994-98 average; the

number of children killed or seriously injured was 24 per cent below the 1994-98 average; and the slight casualty rate was 3 per cent below the 1994-98 average.

The third article presents the final estimates of road casualties in accidents involving drink driving for 1999 and provisional figures for 2000.

The last article reports on casualty reductions associated with the experiment on safety cameras. Pilots of the safety camera funding arrangement have demonstrated the effectiveness of safety camera enforcement in reducing casualties.