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Motorway Casualties in Britain, 1994-2003 

 

The House of Lords

 

10 June, 2005

 

 

Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:

    For each of past 10 years, how many people have been killed on the motorway network; and what are the 10 most common causes of such accidents; and [HL104]

26 May 2005 : Column WA29

    For each of past 10 years, how many people have been seriously injured on the motorway network; and what are the 10 most common causes of such accidents. [HL105]

26 May 2005 : Column WA30

  

Lord Davies of Oldham: The numbers of road users killed or seriously injured in reported road accidents on the motorway network in Great Britain in the years 1994 to 2003 are shown in the table below.
  
26 May 2005 : Column WA29
 
Fatal and serious casualties on the motorway network: GB 1994 to 2003
  1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Killed

157

180

165

191

174

202

189

203

224

217

Serious

1,358

1,333

1,298

1,422

1,301

1,385

1,401

1,404

1,283

1,234


 
26 May 2005 : Column WA29

 

Routine statistics do not record the primary cause of a road accident. Starting in January 2005, information has been collected on the factors that contributed to road accidents. Results are not yet available. Under an earlier pilot scheme, 14 police forces have provided information on contributory factors. Up to four contributory factors could be coded for each accident. The contributory factor data are based on the opinions of police officers. In the case of accidents reported by a member of the public at a police station, these factors have to be determined from their description of the accident. A table showing the 10 most recorded contributory factors to injury road accidents on motorways is shown below.

 

 


Percentage of motorway accidents 1 where each contributory factor was identified: 1999–2003
  Fatal Serious

Failed to judge other person's path or speed

16

23

Inattention

21

23

Lack of judgment of own path

18

17

Excessive speed

14

16

Careless/thoughtless/reckless

15

14

Impairment—fatigue

17

13

Following too close

3

10

Looked but didn't see

6

8

Failed to look

4

6

Slippery road

3

6

1 Percentage of motorway accidents where at least one contributory factor had been assigned. Any single accident can have up to four factors assigned to it, therefore percentages may sum to more than 100.

 

Source: 'The United Kingdom Parliament' Website