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Fri 26 Jun, 3:30 pm UTC

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Road deaths at record low, cycling levels up

By Richard Peace

Official UK government figures just out show an increase in the number of people cycling. 

Cycling levels have reached their highest point for 17 years - coupled with a record low for road fatalities in the UK.  

Department for Transport reports show that cycling increased by 12% (measured in total kilometres cycled) at the same time as a substantial fall in cycling deaths, down from 136  to 115, the second lowest level ever.  

The total number of road deaths for 2008 was 2,538 - the lowest annual total since records began in 1926 and down 14% down on the 2007 figure. The highest recorded post-war annual total was nearly 8,000 in 1966.

There is still plenty of evidence that the UK's roads could be made much safer still - especially for cyclists.

  • Half of Britain's A-roads failed to be rated as safe in a European survey. European road assessment programme (Euro-RAP) experts found 58% of A-roads it assessed were either neutral for safety or poor.
  • A recent Dutch government report on cycling showed GB languishing behind most western European countries both in terms of cyclists killed per km cycled and in the overall level of cycling trips.  
  • The 2008 DfT figures showed a 1% increase in serious and slight injuries for cyclists.

CTC Policy Co-ordinator Chris Peck said: “Official statistics prove that cycling is on the rise in Britain, yet casualties don’t appear to be rising at the same rate. This bears out CTC’s Safety in Numbers campaign which shows increased levels of cycling and safety go hand in hand.”

User Comments

There are 9 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 9 of 9 comments

  • 115 deaths on bikes still sounds like too many!

    I'm Just amazed at the attitude of some drivers. I've had my tyre purposefully rubbed by a driver feeling like I was holding her up. I wish more people would see bikes for the energy efficient and green transport that it is, show some respect for the people actively partaking, and be just a little more vigilant. We should most certainly have priority over cars. You're just so venerable in comparison with a ton of metal.

    That said, accidents do happen.

  • couldn't agree more..should have got the twats number plate! and there are far too many accidents with bikes aswell..

  • I actually kicked her rear lights out, but that's another story.

  • What an ambassador for cycling you are then.....I am sure she will respect cyclist even more now.....

  • It's pretty hard not to get bike rage when someone intentionally tries to take you off. Surely you can understand that? Do you think that had I jumped up the curb to get out the way smiled and waved her on that she would have more respect for cyclists because I'd been so nice? This woman rammed me at 20mph! She could have killed me! Yes I was very angry, what would you suggest calling the police? There's no way, she'd have driven off and what driver is going to stop to give me their number to testify as a witness on a busy road?

    I'm a save rider with more hours than most on the saddle, I race road, track and have done my time as a messenger and I'm a defiantly a promoter of the double wheel, I think it's easy for you to pass judgment from an outside perspective on the situation.

  • I took action in the situation and have no regrets.

    I ask what you would have done?

    Probably living in the regret that you did nothing.

  • "There is still plenty of evidence that the UK's roads could be made much safer still"

    Yes, you don't to spend long cycling on them to work that out!

    Until drivers of larger vehicles learn to respect fellow road users and be more accountable for their actions (including those which don't result in an RTC) then lots more people will still fear riding on the roads, no matter how small the numbers.

  • I would have simply taken her number and reported her, rather than lowering myself to her level. I have been knocked off a few times due to drivers and as long as you get the reg number, time and location along with a witness statement(if possible) the Police are quite helpful. I can understand frustration, but lashing out and causing criminal damage is not a proactive solution.

  • As I read these responses to the increased number of people cycling vs. reduced number of deaths, it is disturbing that another cycling fatality happened today in London. It involved a woman cyclist and a lorry turning left at a junction.

    There is a simple solution, give all cyclist's the right of way on city (or all) roads as they do in Holland. It will have the double effect of making motorists aware (I am a motorist too), of cyclists and reduce the traffic speed in our towns and cities.

    More purpose built cycle lanes and improved road surfaces will also help the cause. I am a relatively new convert to cycling and I'm constantly amazed at the poor quality of our roads, something you don't notice as much in a car.

  • 1

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