Stuck in Neutral: A Grim Reflection on Britain’s Stagnating Road Casualty Data

By Rebecca Morris, Founder of Vision Zero Communications

So here we are again. The end of September, which for road safety professionals means the release of the annual road casualty data from the Department for Transport. And here we go again, with the same disappointing reaction that has become familiar to us all for more than a decade.

The data shows that 1,624 people were reportedly killed on our roads last year. That represents a marginal reduction of 5% compared to 2022. While any decline is a step in the right direction, we must face an uncomfortable truth: road deaths in Britain have remained largely unchanged for over 10 years. This stagnation is not just disappointing - it’s completely unacceptable.

What does it say about our collective efforts when nearly 1,700 lives are lost on our roads every year, and the number barely shifts? Behind every number is a person, a family shattered by tragedy. These aren’t just statistics - they represent real human suffering that could and should be prevented.

A Stark Contrast with Knife Crime

It’s striking to me that knife crime, which tragically claims around 280 lives per year, is treated with far greater urgency in the national conversation and by policymakers. In contrast, road crime kills six times more people annually, yet does not receive the same level of attention or action. While both forms of violence deserve serious intervention, the disparity in how we address road deaths versus other types of preventable crime is glaring.

Why is it that when lives are taken on the road, it’s often dismissed as “accidental,” but knife crime is met with immediate, high-profile responses? Road collisions are not just unfortunate mishaps - they are preventable acts of violence that require an equally serious approach. We need to treat road crime as the public health crisis that it truly is, with resources, legislation, and enforcement to match the scale of the problem.

A Wider Issue of Safety

The total number of people reported killed or seriously injured in 2023 - 29,711- also remains largely unchanged. This figure exposes an alarming truth: our overall approach to reducing road danger is falling drastically short.

While we can acknowledge progress in areas like vehicle safety and enforcement measures, the numbers tell us these initiatives are not enough. As a country, we are failing to address the root causes of road danger at the pace needed to save lives.

Underreporting: A Hidden Reality

What’s equally concerning is the report’s confirmation of discrepancies between official road collision reports and hospital data. While fatalities are predominantly reported to the police, a significant number of non-fatal casualties go unrecorded. In many cases, injuries that result in hospital admissions never appear in the police data. This underreporting masks the true scale of harm occurring on our roads and hinders our ability to tackle the issue effectively.

Time for Radical Change

It’s clear that a more radical approach is needed if we are to see real progress in the reduction of road casualties. The time for small, incremental changes is over.

We need bold, evidence-based solutions that not only address the symptoms of road danger but the causes. This means embedding Vision Zero principles more deeply into national and local strategies, placing human life and health at the forefront of transport policy.

It’s not just about changing behaviour on the road; it’s about creating environments where serious crashes are far less likely to occur. Whether that’s through infrastructure redesign, lowering speed limits or leveraging technologies —our focus must shift from reaction to prevention.

A Call to Action

We cannot afford another decade of stagnation. As road safety professionals, we have a responsibility to advocate for change, to push for policies that will make a real difference, and to hold decision-makers accountable.

It’s time we turn these statistics into a catalyst for action—so we’re not sitting here next September, having the same conversation, faced with the same heartbreakingly familiar data.

It’s time for a new vision, and it’s time for us all to be part of the solution.