RAC road safety spokesperson Pete Williams: “This new data makes
for sobering reading – there has now been no substantial
reduction in fatalities since 2010 with the numbers killed on the
roads remaining stubbornly high. It also remains the case that
casualties among some vulnerable road user groups, specifically
pedestrians and motorcyclists, are rising which is a concern.
“Speed limit compliance also remains a real problem, with more
than half of vehicles recorded speeding on 30mph roads and nearly
one-in-five drivers travelling at 30mph or more in a 20mph zones.
“With traffic levels rising, and people’s dependency on the car
also increasing, a shift in focus is needed at both national and
local levels to begin to tackle the problem.
“Technology has an important role to play – autonomous emergency
braking, for example, has the potential to reduce casualties
significantly but it will take many years to become commonplace.
Nonetheless, we encourage drivers to do their bit by insisting
that any new car they buy is fitted with the technology. And on a
day-to-day basis, it is every driver’s responsibility to ensure
they are driving safely by not breaking speed limits and reducing
distractions in their vehicles so their attention remains firmly
on the road.
“Today’s figures serve as a stark reminder of how much work there
is still to do to improve safety of the UK’s roads.”
