Cycling deaths and injuries up

6 comments
By Richard Peace, in Yorkshire, UK | Monday, Oct 31, 2011 8.00am

Department for Transport statistics show the number of cyclists killed on the UK's roads rose last year, from 104 in 2009 to 111 in 2010. Killed and seriously injured (KSI) figures for the same period were also up, from 2,710 to 2,771.

These numbers have to be viewed in the context of a continuing rise in the number of cyclists on the roads – the total number of miles cycled reached three billion in 2010, up one percent on 2009.

However, the critical indicator figure of cyclist deaths per billion miles – the most effective measurement of how safe cycling actually is – rose too, from 33.5 to 35.7, suggesting that perhaps the UK's roads are becoming marginally less safe for bike users.

'Failed to look properly' was the most frequently reported contributory factor to accidents – it was cited in 40 percent of cases reported to the police in 2010. This is something the CTC have been targeting with their Stop SMIDSY campaign – the acronym standing for Sorry Mate I Didn't See You.

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While bicycle traffic has been on a fairly steady upward path since 1994, the all-important rates of fatalities and injuries per billion miles have been see-sawing since the start of the century, with unwelcome recent upward blips.

However, looked at over a longer time period, the picture is somewhat brighter. Figures compiled by the CTC show that the number of deaths per billion miles has fallen hugely, from a recent peak of 82.7 in 1995. The current rate of fatalities per billion miles for car occupants is 3.4 and has been falling rapidly in recent years.

Overall, the number of people killed on the UK's roads dropped by 17 percent in 2010 to 1,850 – an average of roughly five per day. There was an eight percent drop in serious injuries, with 22,660 people badly hurt. Cyclists were the only major category of road users to suffer a yearly rise in both fatalities and KSI figures.

The cost of the reported accidents was estimated by the DfT to be around £15bn, rising to over £30bn once unreported accidents are accounted for. The latest figures are based mainly on police reports of personal injury accidents, with use of other records such as hospital admissions and the DfT's own travel survey data where relevant. 

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  • "Overall, the number of people killed on the UK's roads dropped by 17 percent in 2010 to 1,850 – an average of roughly five per day. There was an eight percent drop in serious injuries, with 22,660 people badly hurt. Cyclists were the only major category of road users to suffer a yearly rise in both fatalities and KSI figures."

    Cars are getting safer for the occupants and at the same time, faster and hence more dangerous for other road users. So these figures sort of fit...

  • Granted there are plenty of idiot motorists driving too fast for the type of road, road conditions and quite frankly their ability. However, I live in a pretty rural area, with therefor a lot of unlit narrow country roads. You would not believe the amount of cyclist who ride around with not a single light on their bikes in the dark. As a cyclist myself, to watch them is trully frightening. It seems a lot of them think the 'duty' hi-viz vest is not only sufficient but also makes them invincible.

  • Agree with BG2000, drivers do drive more recklessly as cars get safer. The problem is they are only thinking of themselves and not looking out for others.

  • First off, how the hell do they come up with the stat 3 billion miles were ridden? That's a complete load of tosh, a random figure plucked out of the air, I have never officially logged my miles on a bike and I know a lot of others who also don't.

    Anyway, back on topic, there are both bad drivers and bad cyclists. How about the 30% of cyclists that ride without lights? Or the 50% of cyclists who RLJ? Or the 50% of cyclists that ride dangerously filtering through traffic.

    Or how about the idiot drivers who suffer road rage, that go out of their way to be aggressive towards cyclists. Who don't consider cyclists and dangerously overtake with very little room?

    Its neither motorists nor cyclists to blame, but both parties... Its dangerous to ride on the roads, but its also dangerous to drive on the roads. There's a lot more drivers dying on the roads than cyclists.

  • Sorry to be the math nerd here but 104 to 111 is not an increase, it's statistical variation. Apart from that, it's still over100 too many.

  • Since when did kms take over from miles?

    Crap article based on dodgy sources.

    "The latest figures are based mainly on police reports of personal injury accidents, with use of other records such as hospital admissions and the DfT's own travel survey data where relevant".

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