The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has welcomed the news that the number of deaths on Britainâs roads had fallen below 3,000 for the first time since records began more than 80 years ago.
The seven per cent fall in roads deaths in 2007 to 2,943 was wonderful news Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety at RoSPA, said. But he warned there was no room for complacency.
Road deaths peaked in 1941 when 9,169 people were killed and began to rise again in the 1960s with 7,985 people dying in 1966. When data was first published in 1926 there were 4,886 people killed.
The progress made since then is a tribute to road safety professionals working in local authorities and the police forces. It also shows the value of having long-term, government-led road safety strategies and of course, technological advances in the motor industry have also played a very significant role.
Child casualties are down seven per cent and child deaths down by 28 per cent to 121, which is equally encouraging.
Despite the number of pedal cyclists and motorcyclists killed fallen, there has been an increase in deaths among adult cyclists and in serious injuries among child cyclists. This shows the need for the new investment of £140 million announced earlier this year to make the roads safer for cyclists and for cyclist training.
Training perhaps. However I opt for more segregation and suggest that every new road built from now on has an adjacent cycle lane and wherever possible excisting roads put them in.
Only then will cyclists and drivers live in perfect harmony
Jackie Violet Female First
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