Reported casualties by type of road

Table 23 shows that in 2024, non built-up roads accounted for over two-fifths of the total number of casualties (42%: 2,434 out of 5,734). However, because speeds are higher on non built-up roads than elsewhere (the definition is roads with a speed limit of more than 40mph), they accounted for almost two thirds of those killed (65%: 104 out of 161) and for just over two fifths of the total number of seriously injured (43%: 860 out of 1,978).

Compared with 2014, the fall in the total number of casualties has been 45% for non built-up roads and 52% for those elsewhere. The numbers killed on built-up roads has fallen by 22% and those on non built-up ones have also fallen by 20%. Over the years, some traffic will have been transferred away from built-up roads by the opening of city and town bypasses, and by the construction of non built-up roads with higher average traffic volumes. Therefore, these figures do not provide an accurate measure of the comparative change in the road safety performance of built-up and non built-up roads.

Casualties by mode of transport

Table 23 shows that a total of 3,412 car users were injured in road collisions in 2024, representing 62% of all casualties. Of these car users, 73 died. There were 899 pedestrian casualties (16% of the total), of whom 42 died, 395 pedal cycle casualties (7% of the total), of whom 3 died, and 454 motorcycle casualties (8% of the total), of whom 31 died. Because of the numbers of car user, pedestrian, pedal cyclist and motorcyclist casualties, the figures for each of these four groups of road users are the subject of separate sections, which follow this one, and are followed by a section on child casualties, which gives details of their modes of transport.

Together, all the modes of transport other than the four mentioned above accounted for 593 casualties in 2024 (6% of the total), and for smaller percentages of the numbers of seriously injured. These included 130 bus and coach users injured in 2024, of whom 27 suffered serious injuries (none died). There were also 164 casualties who were travelling in light goods vehicles (4 died), 34 people in heavy goods vehicles(2 died), 100 users of taxis(1 died), 18 users of minibuses(none died) and 126 people with another means of transport (5 died).

Car user casualties

A total of 3,412 car users were injured in road collisions in 2024, representing 62% of all casualties. Of these people, a total of 943 were seriously injured, 73 died. Non built-up roads accounted for over a half of all car user casualties (54%: 1,848 out of 3,482). Perhaps because average speeds are higher on non-built up roads, they accounted for much higher percentages of the total numbers of car users who were killed (81%: 59 out of 73) or were seriously injured (61%: 575 out of 943). (see Table 23)

The number of car users killed in 2024 was 19 more than the 2024 figure and the total number of casualties of all severities was up by 3. Since 2014, the number killed has decreased by 22%, and there has been a fall of 50% in the total number of car user casualties. (see Table 23)

Looking at the annual average over the years 2020-2024, the casualty rate for 16-22 year old car users was 1.19 per thousand population. This was much higher than the rate for car users in the older age groups, which varied from 0.41 to 1.01 per thousand population. (see Table 32)

On average, over the years 2020-2024, 69% of car user fatalities occurred on roads with a speed limit of 60 mph. Such roads accounted for 37% of the total number of car user casualties of all severities, where less casualties occurred on roads with a 30 mph limit (31%). (see Table 33)

Adult car users

On weekdays, the peak time for adult car user casualties was from 4pm to 6pm. The 4pm to 5pm average of 206 (the average over the years 2020-2024) was 86% higher than the average of 111 in the morning 8am to 9am peak. (see Table 28)

Adult car user casualties varied by month, with fewest in April and most in August. August had 43% more adult car user casualties than April (annual averages over the years 2020-2024; months standardised to 30 days). (see Table 29)

Friday had the peak numbers of adult car user casualties over the years 2020-2024 with 15% more than the average daily number of adult car user casualties. (see Table 30)

Pedestrian casualties

There were 899 pedestrian casualties in 2024: 16% of all casualties. Of these, 430 were seriously injured and 42 died. Presumably due to their greater vulnerability, a higher proportion of the total number of people who were killed (26%) and seriously injured (22%) were pedestrians. In addition, 48% of pedestrian casualties were seriously injured (430 out of 899) compared with serious for all modes of 31% (1,978 out of 5,734). 94% of pedestrian casualties occurred on built-up roads (844 out of 899) in 2024. (see Table 23)

The overall number of pedestrian casualties was 5% lower than 2024. Since 2014, the number of pedestrians killed has fallen by 17 and there has been a 48% reduction in the total number of pedestrian casualties. Looking at the annual average for the period 2020 to 2024, the 12-15 age-group had the highest ‘all severities’ pedestrian casualty rates (0.48 per thousand population). (see Tables 23 & 32)

The overall pedestrian ‘all severities’ casualty rate for males was 0.18 per thousand population, compared with 0.14 per thousand for females, using the averages for the period 2020 to 2024. (see Table 34)

Adult pedestrian casualties

On average in the period 2020 to 2024, the peak time for adult pedestrian casualties during the week was from 4pm to 6pm; at weekends it was from 5pm to 7pm. (see Table 28)

November and December were the peak months for adult pedestrian casualties, with each having 33% and 39% respectively more than the monthly average. Adult pedestrian casualties in the four winter months, November to February, were 28% more than the monthly average (annual averages over the years 2020-2024; months standardised to 30 days). (see Table 29)

Friday has the highest numbers of adult pedestrian casualties; 24% more than the daily average over the period 2020 to 2024. (see Table 30)

Pedal Cycle Casualties

There were 395 pedal cycle casualties in 2024, 10 less than the previous year. The number of seriously injured pedal cycle casualties in 2024 was 158. There were 3 pedal cycle fatalities in 2024, 4 less than 2023. Since 2014 there has been a 56% decrease in all pedal cycle casualties and the number of fatalities has fluctuated between 2 and 11. In 2024, 89% of pedal cycle casualties were on built-up roads (see Table 23). It should be noted that pedal cycle traffic is estimated to have seen a decrease of 5% in 2024 compared with 2023.

In terms of the averages for the period 2020 to 2024, the pedal cycle casualty rate per head of population was highest for those aged 23-29 (0.14 per thousand population). Of course, it must be remembered that, as noted earlier, per capita casualty rates do not provide a measure of the relative risk, because they do not take account of the levels of usage of (in this case) pedal cycles. (see Table 32)

Adult pedal cycle casualties

Using the averages for the period 2020 to 2024, on weekdays, the peak numbers of adult pedal cycle casualties occurred from 4 pm to 6 pm and from 8 am to 9 am. At weekends the numbers were smaller, but appear to peak between 12 noon to 1 pm. (see Table 28)

The peak months of the year for adult pedal cycle casualties were May, June, August and September which were 18-37% more than the monthly average (2020-2024 annual averages standardised to 30 days). (see Table 29)

The day of the week with the peak numbers of adult pedal cycle casualties was Tuesday, 16% higher than the daily average, over the years 2020-2024. There were substantially fewer adult pedal cycle casualties on Sunday, 23% less than the daily average. (see Table 30)

Motorcyclist casualties

A total of 454 motorcyclists were injured in road collisions in 2024, representing 8% of all casualties. Of these, 280 were seriously injured and 31 died. 52% of all motorcyclist casualties occurred on non built-up roads but (perhaps because of their higher average speeds) such roads accounted for 58% of those seriously injured, and all of those killed. (see Table 23)

The number of motorcyclist casualties in 2024 was 5% lower than in the previous year but the number killed increased by 4. The total number of motorcycle casualties rose each year from 1999 to a peak in 2001; since then, it has tended to decline. As a result, the figure for all casualties in 2024 was 45% lower than in 2014. One more motorcyclist died in 2024 than in 2014. (see Table 23)

On average, over the years 2020 to 2024, the motorcyclist casualty rate was highest for the 16-22 age group (0.16 per thousand population); other age-groups had smaller casualty rates. (see Table 32)

Looking at the averages for the period 2020 to 2024, the peak time of day for adult motorcyclist casualties was 4pm to 6pm on weekdays (see Table 28), the peak months of the year were June (64 casualties) and August and September (61 casualties, amidst a general peak from May to September (see Table 29) and there were more casualties from Friday to Sunday than on any of the other days (see Table 30).

Child (0-15) casualties

There were 495 child casualties in 2024, representing 9% of the total number of casualties of all ages. Of the child casualties, 160 were seriously injured, and three died (see Table 24). 

There were two less children killed in 2024 than in 2023. The total number of child casualties decreased by 87 on 2023. Since 2014, the number of children killed has decreased by four. (see Table A and Table 25)

In terms of the averages for the period 2020 to 2024, on weekdays, the peak time for child casualties was from 3 pm to 6 pm, with 42% of all weekday casualties in those three hours. A further 20% occurred in the three hours between 6 pm and 9 pm There was another peak in the morning, between 8 am and 9 am There was no real clear peak at weekends: the numbers of casualties were very broadly the same each hour from 12 noon to 7 pm (see Table 27)

August was the peak month for child casualties, with 33% more than in an average month. June had 19% more than an average month. (2020-2024 annual averages standardised to 30 days). (see Table 29)

Using the averages for 2020 to 2024, Friday was the peak day of the week for child casualties, with 29% more than an average day. Sunday, on the other hand, had 20% less than an average day. (see Table 30)

Child (0-15) casualties by mode of transport

In 2024, there were 234 child pedestrian casualties. They accounted for 26% of all pedestrian casualties of all ages (234 out of 899). Of the child pedestrian casualties, 10798 were seriously injured and 1 died. (see Table 24)

There were 32 child pedal cycle casualties in 2024 (8% of the total of 395 pedal cycle casualties of all ages). The child pedal cycle casualties included 7 who were seriously injured, one died. (see Table 24)

In 2024, there were 191 child casualties in cars, 85% of the total number of car user casualties of all ages (191 out of 3,512). Of the child casualties in cars, 42 were seriously injured (one died). (see Tables 23 and 25)

Child (0-15) casualty rates (per head of population)

Children’s casualty rates (per head of population) increase with age: using the averages for the years 2020-2024 taken together, for children aged 0-4 the rate was 0.27 per thousand population, whereas it was 0.61 per thousand for those aged 5-11 and for the 12-15 age group it was 0.89 per thousand. The pedestrian casualty rate for younger children (0-4 years) was 28% of that for 5-11 and 17% of the 12-15 year old rate. (see Table 32)

The pedestrian casualty rate for boys in the 0-4 age group was twice that for girls. The difference between the sexes was even more pronounced in driver or rider casualty rates. (see Table 34)

The overall child pedestrian casualty rate at 0.28 per thousand child population was more than twice the corresponding rate for adult pedestrian casualties. (see Table 32)