Road safety experts are calling for new driving law changes to be introduced to ensure road users remain safe, as new data shows that more than 1,600 people were killed on Britain's roads last year.
Research from the Department for Transport shows that there were 1,602 fatalities on roads in Great Britain last year, while almost 30,000 were killed or seriously injured.
While both of these figures represent a one per cent decline compared to the previous year, experts are still calling for more to be done to protect road users.
A four per cent decline compared to 2023 was seen for casualties of all severities, with 128,272 recorded in 2024.
It comes as travel rates return to pre-pandemic levels, with 340 billion vehicle miles travelled last year.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at The AA, said every death and serious injury was a "tragedy", noting that there had been "little to no improvement" in the number of people injured on roads.
He called for the Government to launch the new road safety strategy, which would be the first comprehensive review in more than a decade.
Cousens also called for more to be done to protect vulnerable road users, highlighting that motorcyclist fatalities rose by eight per cent and pedestrian deaths increased by one per cent.
Experts are calling for new driving laws to improve road safety across Great Britain
|GETTY/PA
The rate of fatalities and serious injuries for young drivers and passengers remains "disproportionately high", with passenger casualties accounting for 21 per cent of all KSI casualties from a collision involving at least one younger car driver.
In comparison, collisions involving other-aged car drivers and passengers who were killed or seriously injured accounted for 14 per cent of all casualties in 2024.
Mr Cousens said: "These figures highlight the continued concern about young, novice drivers and their passengers.
"Implementing certain changes, such as limiting new drivers under the age of 21 from carrying peer-aged passengers for a short term of six months after passing their test could save lives."
Graduated Driving Licences have gained support to improve safety for younger motorists
| PALATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The measures have frequently been touted as part of a Graduated Driving Licence scheme that aims to improve safety standards for younger motorists in the aftermath of passing their practical tests.
Other suggestions put forward as part of the call for GDLs include a potential curfew, a zero tolerance on alcohol and additional training for driving in adverse weather and road conditions.
Rural roads remain a risk for young drivers, with 49 per cent killed or seriously injured outside of urban areas, compared to 42 per cent for other age groups.
Road rules may also need to be emphasised as the DfT data reported that 17 per cent of younger drivers involved in a serious crash were not wearing a seatbelt.
The RAC's road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis, has also called for more to be done across the board to protect drivers, passengers and all other road users.
He said: "Britain might still have an enviable safety record compared to some other countries, but the simple fact is that casualties aren't falling at a fast enough rate anymore.
"Casualty reduction targets would be one way of giving the whole topic of road safety national focus, as would fresh interventions that could help remove the riskiest drivers from our roads - for instance, introducing alcohol interlocks to stop drink-drivers from reoffending, and steps taken to reduce instances of excessive speeding."
Mr Dennis also placed heavy emphasis on the upcoming road safety strategy, adding that he looks forward to seeing how this can reduce casualty numbers.