New figures show UK at top of road safety table - 25th November 2010
New figures
have revealed that
the UK has risen to
the top of the world
road safety league
table with fewer
deaths per million
of the population
than any other
country.
The figures,
released by the
Institute of
Advanced Motorists,
show that the UK now
has a fatality rate
of 38 deaths on the
nation’s roads per
million people,
which compares to 51
in Germany, 66 in
France and 67 in
Italy. The UK’s
figure of 38 relates
to fatalities in
2009 and compares
well against
previous years.
There were 43 deaths
per million the year
before, 50 in 2007
and 54 in 2006. In
that four years the
UK has risen from
sixth in the world
table to first last
year.
The statistics show that death rates are falling in most developed countries, though it is rising in India as well as other countries where recent years have seen a large increase in motoring and in motorcycles.
The IAM claims
that Britain has led
the world in
reducing road
casualties and
highlights previous
targets which have
been met including
one made in 1987 for
a one-third
reduction in
casualties by the
year 2000. A 2000
target to reduce
road deaths and
serious injuries by
40% by 2010 is also
well on track.
Although 2010
figures will not be
available until next
year, between 2000
and 2009 the
reduction was 44%.
The figures
are published in the
IAM’s report,
entitled ‘Deaths and
injuries on
Britain’s roads’,
which claims that
each road fatality
costs the British
economy £1.7m and
that each life saved
is of direct benefit
to society.
Neil Greig,
IAM director of
policy and research
welcomed the figures
but warned that the
progress that has
been made is at risk
if government
spending cuts begin
to bite. He said:
“These staggering
figures prove
conclusively that
investing in saving
lives on the roads
saves the country
money. So funding
being taken away
from this area is a
false economy. The
important task now
is to compensate for
these cuts.”
http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/1306.html
