Road Casualties Great Britain
Encyclopedia
Reported Road Casualties Great Britain (RRCGB), formerly Road Casualties Great Britain (RCGB) and before that Road Accidents Great Britain (RAGB) is the official statistical publication of the UK Department for Transport
(DfT) on traffic casualties, fatalities and related road safety data. This publication, first produced in 1951, is the primary source for data on road casualties in Great Britain. It is based primarily on police STATS19 data. Data has been collected since 1926.
accidents on British roads' The highest number of deaths in any one year was 9,169 people in 1941 during World War II
. The highest figure during peacetime was 7,985 in 1966.
Figures for reported deaths, serious injuries and slight injuries have generally decreased since 1966. Since 1992, the 10-year drop in killed or seriously injured casualty numbers reported to the police, compared with the previous 5-year average, has been about 40%.
In 1987, the government set the first national casualty reduction target. The target set was that road casualties should drop by one-third by the year 2000 in comparison to the average numbers for the years 1981-85. The target was exceeded, with the number of fatalities dropping by 39% and the number of serious injuries dropping by 45% over that period.
In 1999, when Great Britain had the safest roads in Europe apart from Sweden, the government set a new national casualty reduction target, to be met by the year 2010. The target for 2010, compared to the average for the years 1994-98, was a reduction of 40% in the number of people killed and seriously injured (KSI) casualties, a reduction of 50% the number of children KSI casualties and a reduction of 10% in the rate of people slightly injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres. By 2009 the results were: killed or seriously injured 44% lower; children killed or seriously injured 61% lower and the slight casualty rate was 37 per cent lower.Department for Transport (2009) p. 8 Compared with the 1994-98 average, in 2009: The number killed was 38 per cent lower; The number of reported killed or seriously injured casualties was 44 per cent lower; The number of children killed or seriously injured was 61 per cent lower; and The slight casualty rate was 37 per cent lower. In contrast traffic rose by an estimated 15 per cent over this period]]
There is some concern about the completeness of the injury data and what can be concluded from it (see Criticism below). This table gives data for sample years:-
in which one or more person is killed or injured and involving one or more vehicles using the STATS19 data collection system.
STATS19 is the reference number for the police form used to record incidents. STATS20 describes how to complete the form giving examples of how to correctly record different situations. STATS21 describes how the STATS19 data should be checked for accuracy.
Additional information for RCGB is gathered from death registrations, coroners' reports and traffic and vehicle registration
s.
A report published in the British Medical Journal
in 2006 by M.Gill et al. compared police and hospital statistics between 1996 and 2004 and concluded that although the police statistics showed a reduction in KSIs from 85.9 to 59.4 per 100 000 for the period the statistics for hospital admissions related to traffic accidents requiring hospital admission for the period did not. It concluded that the overall fall in police figures represented a fall in completeness of reporting of these injuries rather than an actual reduction of casualties.
Also in 2006 a report prepared for the DfT by H.Ward et al. noted that although the figures for fatalities were normally accurate, with no significant under-reporting there was more uncertainty in the statistics relating to injury. They recommended that it was insufficient to rely solely on the STATS19 data on any other single data source because different databases showed different elements of the story and that "A system of data triangulation should be used to compare and understand trends in road casualties." They notes that the definition of seriously injured in police reports was at least partially subjective, and there was some under-reporting (though less than is the case for lesser injuries). The report also noted that there were changes to the method used to estimate vehicle mileages in 1995 which would affect direct comparisons of figures spanning this year.
The Department for Transport acknowledged in their report for the year 2008 that a considerable proportion of non-fatal casualties are not known to the police. Based on additional sources including hospital records, surveys and compensation claims they estimate that the total number of road casualties in Great Britain each year is nearer to 800,000. The UK government is not convinced however that the reductions in reported injury levels do not reflect an actual decline.Department for Transport (2008),p. 62 "It has long been known that a considerable proportion of non-fatal casualties are not known to the police and hospital, survey and compensation claims data all indicate a higher number of casualties than are reported... Police data on road accidents (STATS19), whilst not perfect, remains the most detailed, complete and reliable single source of information on road casualties covering the whole of Great Britain, in particular for monitoring trends over time" In 2008 the department changed the title of the report from 'Road Casualties Great Britain' to 'Reported Road Casualties Great Britain'.
, Professor John Adams and John Whitelegg
suggest that roads may actually be felt to be sufficiently dangerous as to deter pedestrians from using them. They compared rates for those whose transport options are most limited, the elderly and children and found that:
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
(DfT) on traffic casualties, fatalities and related road safety data. This publication, first produced in 1951, is the primary source for data on road casualties in Great Britain. It is based primarily on police STATS19 data. Data has been collected since 1926.
Published data
Data has been collected since 1926, in which year there were 4,886 fatalities in some 124,000 crashes.Department for Transport (2006), p. 92 'Road accident and casualty data was first collect on a national level in 1926. That year there were 4,886 recorded deaths in some 124,000 accidents' Between 1951 and 2006 a total of 309,144 people were killed and 17.6 million persons were injured in accidents on British roads.Department for Transport (2006) p. 1 'Between 1951 and 2006, 309,144 people were killed and 17.6 million persons were injured inaccidents on British roads' The highest number of deaths in any one year was 9,169 people in 1941 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The highest figure during peacetime was 7,985 in 1966.
Figures for reported deaths, serious injuries and slight injuries have generally decreased since 1966. Since 1992, the 10-year drop in killed or seriously injured casualty numbers reported to the police, compared with the previous 5-year average, has been about 40%.
In 1987, the government set the first national casualty reduction target. The target set was that road casualties should drop by one-third by the year 2000 in comparison to the average numbers for the years 1981-85. The target was exceeded, with the number of fatalities dropping by 39% and the number of serious injuries dropping by 45% over that period.
In 1999, when Great Britain had the safest roads in Europe apart from Sweden, the government set a new national casualty reduction target, to be met by the year 2010. The target for 2010, compared to the average for the years 1994-98, was a reduction of 40% in the number of people killed and seriously injured (KSI) casualties, a reduction of 50% the number of children KSI casualties and a reduction of 10% in the rate of people slightly injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres. By 2009 the results were: killed or seriously injured 44% lower; children killed or seriously injured 61% lower and the slight casualty rate was 37 per cent lower.Department for Transport (2009) p. 8 Compared with the 1994-98 average, in 2009: The number killed was 38 per cent lower; The number of reported killed or seriously injured casualties was 44 per cent lower; The number of children killed or seriously injured was 61 per cent lower; and The slight casualty rate was 37 per cent lower. In contrast traffic rose by an estimated 15 per cent over this period]]
There is some concern about the completeness of the injury data and what can be concluded from it (see Criticism below). This table gives data for sample years:-
Annual summary
| Year | Killed | Serious injury | Slight injury | Total injury | ref | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,857 | 20,803 | 185,995 | 206,798 | Traffic levels fell 2% in the year | |
| 2009 | 2,222 | 24,690 | 195,234 | 222,146 | Department for Transport (2009), p. 8 There were a total of 222,146 reported casualties of all severities, 4 per cent lower than in 2008. 2,222 people were killed, 12 per cent lower than in 2008, 24,690 were seriously injured (down 5 per cent) and 195,234 were slightly injured (down 4 per cent) |
|
| 2008 | 2,538 | 26,000 | 202,333 | 228,000 | Department for Transport (2008), p. 6 | |
| 2007 | 2,946 | 28,000 | 217,060 | 245,000 | ||
| 2006 | 3,172 | 29,000 | 226,559 | 255,000 | ||
| 2005 | 3,201 | 29,000 | 238,862 | 268,000 | ||
| 2004 | 3,221 | 31,000 | 245,000 | 278,000 | Department for Transport (2008), p. 106 table 2 | |
| 2003 | 3,508 | 34,000 | 253,000 | 287,000 | ||
| 2002 | 3,431 | 36,000 | 263,000 | 299,000 | ||
| 2001 | 3,450 | 37,000 | 273,000 | 310,000 | ||
| 2000 | 3,409 | 38,000 | 279,000 | 317,000 | ||
| 1999 | 3,423 | 39,000 | 278,000 | 317,000 | ||
| 1998 | 3,421 | 41,000 | 281,000 | 322,000 | ||
| 1997 | 3,599 | 324,000 | ||||
| 1990 | 5,217 | 60,000 | 275,000 | 336,000 | ||
| 1980 | 5,953 | 323,000 | ||||
| 1970 | 7,499 | 356,000 | ||||
| 1966 | 7,985 | Highest recorded peacetime fatality rate | ||||
| 1960 | 6,970 | 341,000 | ||||
| 1950 | 5,012 | 49,000 | 148,000 | 196,000 | ||
| 1941 | 9,169 | Highest recorded fatality rate | ||||
| 1940 | 8,609 | no figures for injured during WW2 World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... |
||||
| 1930 | 7,305 | 178,000 | ||||
| 1926 | 4,886 |
Casualties by road type in 2008
Casualties by severity, built-up, non built-up and on motorways.Department for Transport (2008), p. 121 table 12 'Reported accidents, vehicles and casualties: casualties by severity: by road class, built-up and non built-up roads: 2008'| Road Type | Killed | Serious injury | Slight injury | total injury | ref | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non Built-up (excludes motorways) | 1,323 | 8,342 | 48,810 | 58,475 | 52% of the total killed, 32% of total seriously injured, 25% of total with slight injuries | |
| Built-up | 1,057 | 16,823 | 143,079 | 160,959 | 42% of the total killed, 65% of total seriously injured, 70% of total with slight injuries | |
| Motorway | 158 | 869 | 10,444 | 11,471 | 6% of the total killed, 3% of total seriously injured, 5% of total with slight injuries. Fatalities on motorways have decreased by 9 per cent since 1994-98 in a period with traffic levels increased by 28%" | |
| All casualties | 2,538 | 26,034 | 202,333 | 230,905 | ||
STATS19 data collection system
The police collect details of all incidents which they attend or become aware of within 30 days which occur on the highwayHighway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in which one or more person is killed or injured and involving one or more vehicles using the STATS19 data collection system.
STATS19 is the reference number for the police form used to record incidents. STATS20 describes how to complete the form giving examples of how to correctly record different situations. STATS21 describes how the STATS19 data should be checked for accuracy.
Additional information for RCGB is gathered from death registrations, coroners' reports and traffic and vehicle registration
Vehicle registration
Vehicle registration is the compulsory registration of a vehicle with a government authority. Vehicle registration's purpose is to establish clear ownership and to tax motorists or vehicle owners....
s.
Reported reduction in injury levels
The accuracy of the police STATS19 statistics, and thus much of the data published in the RCGB, and therefore its suitability for measuring trends in road casualties was examined in two studies in 2006 and has subsequently been commented on by the Department for Transport who concluded that the figures for deaths were accurate, however the actual total injuries is likely considerably higher than the reported figure, possibly three times higher.A report published in the British Medical Journal
British Medical Journal
BMJ is a partially open-access peer-reviewed medical journal. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988. The journal is published by the BMJ Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association...
in 2006 by M.Gill et al. compared police and hospital statistics between 1996 and 2004 and concluded that although the police statistics showed a reduction in KSIs from 85.9 to 59.4 per 100 000 for the period the statistics for hospital admissions related to traffic accidents requiring hospital admission for the period did not. It concluded that the overall fall in police figures represented a fall in completeness of reporting of these injuries rather than an actual reduction of casualties.
Also in 2006 a report prepared for the DfT by H.Ward et al. noted that although the figures for fatalities were normally accurate, with no significant under-reporting there was more uncertainty in the statistics relating to injury. They recommended that it was insufficient to rely solely on the STATS19 data on any other single data source because different databases showed different elements of the story and that "A system of data triangulation should be used to compare and understand trends in road casualties." They notes that the definition of seriously injured in police reports was at least partially subjective, and there was some under-reporting (though less than is the case for lesser injuries). The report also noted that there were changes to the method used to estimate vehicle mileages in 1995 which would affect direct comparisons of figures spanning this year.
The Department for Transport acknowledged in their report for the year 2008 that a considerable proportion of non-fatal casualties are not known to the police. Based on additional sources including hospital records, surveys and compensation claims they estimate that the total number of road casualties in Great Britain each year is nearer to 800,000. The UK government is not convinced however that the reductions in reported injury levels do not reflect an actual decline.Department for Transport (2008),p. 62 "It has long been known that a considerable proportion of non-fatal casualties are not known to the police and hospital, survey and compensation claims data all indicate a higher number of casualties than are reported... Police data on road accidents (STATS19), whilst not perfect, remains the most detailed, complete and reliable single source of information on road casualties covering the whole of Great Britain, in particular for monitoring trends over time" In 2008 the department changed the title of the report from 'Road Casualties Great Britain' to 'Reported Road Casualties Great Britain'.
Suppression of activity by vulnerable road users
Another independent report challenged the government's claim that falling casualty rates meant that roads were becoming 'much safer'. Mayer HillmanMayer Hillman
Mayer Hillman is a Senior Fellow Emeritus since 1992 at the Policy Studies Institute, University of Westminster.A qualified architect and town planner, he completed a doctoral thesis on transport, planning and environmental issues in 1970 at the University of Edinburgh.Hillman co-authored a 1990...
, Professor John Adams and John Whitelegg
John Whitelegg
John Whitelegg is visiting Professor of Sustainable Transport at Liverpool John Moores University and Professor of Sustainable Development at University of York's Stockholm Environment Institute....
suggest that roads may actually be felt to be sufficiently dangerous as to deter pedestrians from using them. They compared rates for those whose transport options are most limited, the elderly and children and found that:
- Britain's child pedestrian safety record is worse than the average for Europe, in contrast to the better than average all-ages figure (Department for Transport)
- Children's independent mobility is increasingly curtailed, with fear of traffic being cited as a dominant cause (Hillman, Adams, Whitelegg)
- Distances walked have declined more than in other European countries
- Similar (though less well-defined) observations can be made regarding the elderly
External links
- Road casualties in Great Britain: Annual reports
- STATS 19 defined at Office for National StatisticsOffice for National StatisticsThe Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
- Department for Transport - Statistics