RAC Foundation Report Highlights Variations Across UK And Cyclist Safety Concerns

Serious injury lawyers have urged that a consistent approach is adopted to improving road safety across the UK, after new analysis revealed variations in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads and fresh concerns regarding incidents involving cyclists.

The research by the RAC Foundation revealed that when compared to the average figures between 2005 to 2009, in 2013 the number of people killed or injured in collisions had fallen by 23 per cent across the UK as a whole.  However, it also found that the fall was higher than average in London (36 per cent), Northern Ireland (35 per cent) and Scotland (33 per cent), but lower across the rest of England (19 per cent) and Wales (15 per cent).

The study also revealed that there had also been a flattening out of the downward trend since 2010, while the deaths of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists accounted for a larger proportion of all road fatalities in 2013 when compared to the 2005-2009 average as a benchmark.

Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell specialise in providing support to victims injured in road traffic collisions, helping them to secure vital financial support which allows them to access services to aid their recovery and rehabilitation.

Expert Opinion

"The new figures from the RAC Foundation raise very significant concerns on several issues and it is vital that the Government, councils and road safety organisations work together to address the key points highlighted. <br/> <br/>"Among those concerns is the variation in the rates of reducing deaths and serious injuries, with consideration required of how this emerged and what can be done to ensure a more consistent reduction in those affected by collisions on our roads. <br/> <br/>"In addition, it is a major concern to see vulnerable groups such as pedestrians and cyclists account for a greater proportion of fatalities and injuries. With more and more people cycling in particular, this has become a growing issue across the UK and also prominently in London – where simply too many reports have emerged of cyclists being killed. <br/> <br/>"Finally, the overall flattening in the rate of reduction is very worrying and it is clear that new approaches to road safety should be examined to drive down the number of deaths and injuries even further. <br/> <br/>"While the falls seen are of course welcome, there remains much more to be done to protect all road users from the risk of death and catastrophic serious injury. Safety should always come first and it is vital that motorists, all levels of Government and road safety bodies work together to address this incredibly important issue." Neil Whiteley - Partner