28 people will lose their lives on UK roads during Road Safety Week (17 to 23 November), according to a RoSPA report that reveals there are over 1,600 preventable deaths annually on British roads.

Over the last decade, progress on road safety has slowed dramatically - road fatalities have reduced by just 9% in the last decade compared to a drop of 47% in the previous decade. This presents an opportunity for the Government to make up for lost time. RoSPA is calling on Government to implement a National Accident Prevention Strategy to save lives, boost the economy and free up capacity in the NHS - which includes 15 policy recommendations to improve road safety for all road users, including pedestrians.

Accidental deaths and serious injuries on UK roads remain too high

In 2023, over 1,600 people tragically lost their lives on UK roads, over 28,000 more were seriously injured and there were more than 132,000 injuries of all severity. In the decade from 2014 to 2023 road fatalities reduced by just 9%, and the UK’s road fatality reduction rate was the seventh-worst in the EU27 during this time. This is a marked slowdown in progress compared to the 47% reduction in the previous decade.

In 2023, 45% of people killed on the road were car users (including taxis and minibuses), 25% were pedestrians, 19% motorcyclists and 5% were pedal cyclists, and about 6% were in other types of vehicles. Motorcyclists have the highest rate of death per miles travelled, very closely followed by pedestrians and pedal cyclists, highlighting these groups as the most vulnerable road users. In comparison the fatality rate for incidents involving cars per miles travelled is very low, despite cars causing the highest number of fatalities.

RoSPA’s report highlights that among all drivers, those under 25 are not only more likely to be killed or injured on the roads but are responsible for many other deaths and serious injuries. The fatality rate is 71% higher in under 25s than over 25s. Evidence shows this is due to lack of experience or riskier driving and suggests that young drivers and their passengers are less likely to wear seatbelts. Almost half (49%) of drivers aged between 17 and 24 admit to using their mobile phone while driving, compared to a quarter (25%) of drivers of all ages.  

Road traffic accidents cause 7% of all accident-related deaths and 7% of all accident-related hospital admissions

Accidental deaths now needlessly take over 20,000 lives each year. New data from all four nations, collated by RoSPA, reveals that road fatalities are the fourth most common cause of accidental death in the UK - 7% of all accidental deaths were because of a road traffic accident.

In England alone, accident-related hospital admissions for serious injuries have risen by 48% in the last two decades. Over 740,000 people were admitted to hospital due to an accident in England in 2022/23, almost the size of the population of Leeds, rising to over 870,000 people across the UK. In England in 2022, injuries sustained from road traffic accidents were the third biggest cause of accident-related hospital admissions - 7% of all accident-related hospital admissions were because of a road traffic accident.

Accidents cost the UK almost £12 billion annually in medical care and cost to businesses

As well as personal pain and injury, accidents put a huge strain on the NHS, costing at least £6 billion annually in NHS medical care – not including ambulance callouts, surgery or long-term treatment.
 
In England alone last year, over 4.4 million bed days were used up to treat patients with accident-related injuries, costing the NHS an estimated £4.6 billion. Across the UK accidents led to around 5.2 million bed days, costing the NHS an estimated £5.4 billion last year. In addition, accidents resulted in around 7 million Accident & Emergency (A&E) visits across the UK last year, costing the NHS a total of at least £6 billion every year.
 
Accident-related injuries are also a drain on the economy and prevent people from working. The combined cost to UK businesses is £5.9 billion, due to lost output and indirect management costs.
 
RoSPA is calling for the Government to create a National Accident Prevention Strategy to save lives, boost the economy and free up capacity in the NHS - which includes 15 policy recommendations to improve road safety. Read RoSPA’s full report, ‘Safer Lives, Stronger Nation’.
 
Caitlin Taylor, Road Safety Manager at RoSPA, said: “Our new report shows that there is still much to do to improve safety on the UK’s roads. Today, four people will tragically die on the road, and this is unacceptable. These fatalities and injuries are often preventable - they do not have to happen. Time and time again we have seen the numbers of road incidences fall significantly after implementing the right improvements in legislation, technology, funding and enforcement.
 
“Even those who have never been involved in a road incident are still suffering the consequences, as increasing numbers of incidents are choking the UK economy and engulfing the NHS – taking up bed space, money, time and resources that could be directed to other serious illnesses. As part implementing a National Accident Prevention Strategy, we're calling for the Government to introduce 15 measures to significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.”
 
Aaron Powell, Fleet and Logistics Director at Speedy Hire, said: “Road safety is a crucial issue that affects everyone, and the findings from RoSPA’s report highlight the urgent need for action. We believe that safety should extend beyond the workplace and encompass all aspects of life, including our roads. With thousands of preventable accidents each year, it is imperative that we collaborate with government and industry partners to implement effective measures that can save lives, reduce injuries, and alleviate the economic burden of road traffic accidents.”
 
RoSPA is calling on the Government to implement the following 15 measures to reduce road fatalities and injuries:

• Introduce a Road Safety Strategy for England

• Establish a dedicated body to investigate serious road incidents

• Introduce a system of Graduated Driver Licensing in the UK

• Adopt the General and Safety Pedestrian Regulations into UK law

• Reduce the legal blood alcohol content limit for drivers

• Increase support for traffic police to help them tackle drug driving

• Employers put in place strict drink and drug-driving policies for staff

• Improve public awareness messaging around the risks of drug-driving

• Empower local authorities to set safe speed limits in their areas

• Improve public understanding of the risks and legal requirements around vehicle defects

• Support public awareness campaigns aimed at promoting behavioural change in relation to distraction, seat belt wearing, drink and drug driving, driving drowsy, and speeding

• Better investigate the role of vehicle defects in road traffic incidents

• Encourage healthy and active travel, including walking and cycling

• Support the creation of cycle lanes, street lighting, and teach children about road safety

• Encourage local authorities to create school travel plans which support safe travel to school.