The number of pedestrians killed on UK roads has risen in the past year with more drivers travelling dangerously throughout the country.
Pedestrian fatalities were up six per cent last year sparking huge concern into whether drivers are being careful on the roads.
The latest stats from the Department for Transport found that there were 407 road deaths last year compared with 385 in 2022.
Last year, the Department recorded 132,063 casualties of all severities and 1,645 deaths on the road.
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The data showed nearly four out of 10 fatalities were for women in the 70 and over age group
PA
Commenting on the data, Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said the proportion of pedestrian fatalities is now at its “highest” since before the pandemic.
He warned that the data should be a “red flag” to the Government signifying "just how dangerous our roads still are”.
He said: “It’s extremely concerning that these figures have risen in the two years since the Highway Code was changed with a view to making the roads safer for the most vulnerable users.
“We hope there isn’t a negative link between the two, but with RAC research showing a third of drivers think pedestrians now face greater danger at junctions due to the changes, there seem to be questions that need answering.”
In terms of overall road user casualties, looking at it by demographic, the youngest and oldest age groups are most at risk of casualties.
The data revealed that the number of female fatalities between the ages of zero and 16 increased by 17 per cent compared to 2022.
Meanwhile, the percentage of males within the same age group was up by a third (31 per cent) compared to the previous year.
Among the 414 female fatalities recorded in 2023, nearly four out of 10 were in the 70 and over age group.
Williams added that any number of deaths on the road is too many, so “we strongly encourage the new Government not to take these figures lightly and to make road safety a priority”.
The RAC shared their plea for the next Government to reinstate road casualty reduction targets to help combat the problem, similar to Vision Zero used across Europe.
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at IAM RoadSmart, explained that it’s disappointing that such little progress has been made in reducing the number of deaths on roads.
He warned that alarm bells should also be “ringing” about the increase in the number of pedestrian fatalities.
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Stats found the youngest and oldest age groups were most at risk of casualties
PAHe said: “It is a stark reminder to all parties that an updated road safety plan as well as a national roads renewal programme must be a priority for whomever forms the next Government.”
