Road deaths and serious injuries show no significant signs of reduction for more than five years

The latest government road casualty statistics show that, in 2023, 1,695 people died on UK roads (1,624 in Britain, 71 in Northern Ireland) A further 28,967 were seriously injured (28,087 in Britain, 880 in Northern Ireland).

Road deaths and serious injuries have shown no significant signs of reduction for more than five years.

In Derby, the number of people killed or seriously injured in 2022 was 118 and in 2023, 145, a 22.8% change, whilst for Derbyshire, the figures were 488 and 490 - a change of 0.3%.

Nottingham figures are 159 for 2022 and 186 for 2023, a change of 17% whilst for Nottinghamshire, the figures are 374 and 394 respectively, a change of 5.4%.

Brake has now revealed that over the same period in 2023, the charity’s National Road Victim Service provided specialist emotional and practical support to more than 1500 families across the UK, helping them cope with their grief and navigate the complex procedures that often follow a road crash, with numbers already set to be even higher in 2024.

At any point in time, around 700 road victim families are receiving support from Brake, including parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and people who have witnessed a traumatic incident. Many of the families supported have been involved in multi-fatality crashes, and around 7% of support cases involve the death of a child. Around 12% of support cases involve someone who is considered high risk or vulnerable.

Ross Moorlock, Chief Executive at Brake, said: “Road casualties are not just statistics. Behind every number is a grief-stricken family whose lives have been changed forever in an instant. The demand on our service continues to grow as road deaths and injuries show no sign of reducing. Every year, more families suffer the devastating impact of a road crash. Every year, more and more families come to us in their darkest and most difficult times. 

“By comparison, at a Government level, funding for support for road victims is inadequate – so we and other charities that care for bereaved and seriously injured families rely on the generosity of other supporters to fund our vital work. We know that the right support at the right time can change the course of someone’s life.

“Every road victim deserves the very highest standard of support and for that to happen we need a coordinated approach and national standards that meet best practice for post-crash response. We need national, multi-year funding for the provision of support to the affected road victim community, so that every family has access to trauma-informed, face-to-face support within their community, according to their needs. 

“Road victims have been the forgotten and neglected victims for far too long and that has to change.

“Our families have told us what they want and what they need – and that includes recognition of the trauma of sudden road death and injury, parity with other victim groups, sentencing to fit the crime and lessons learned to prevent future road death and injury.

“Until we achieve a world where no one is killed or harmed on a road, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that everyone affected by road death and injury receives the respect, support and justice they deserve.”

More than 3,300 educators, employers, emergency services and others have signed up to take part in Road Safety Week 2024, together representing more than four million people. Brake has provided free resources including lesson plans for schools, social media images, films, posters and a webinar for employers.

• 1300+ educators will help children learn about the people that help after a crash and celebrate their Road Safety Heroes
• 250 employers from 175 organisations will attend a free webinar run by Brake to learn what to do if one of their employees is involved in a crash
• 62 people will host or attend a memorial event to honour loved ones who have died in road crashes.

Road Safety Week is Brake’s biggest annual campaign. This year, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact of road crashes on everyone involved, and celebrate the incredible work of people who provide support after a crash. For Road Safety Week 2024, Brake is counting the real cost of road crashes, revealing the stories behind the numbers and calling for the very highest standard of care for every road victim.

Road Safety Week 2024, between 17th and 23rd November - is delivered by Brake - the road safety charity, founded in 1995, that exists to stop deaths, serious injuries and pollution on roads, and to care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes.

Brake campaigns for safe and healthy roads through seeking government policies and investment to end the carnage, and through projects that help communities, schools and employers promote safe and pollution-free streets locally. Brake delivers Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest road safety campaign.

Brake is the national provider of care and support to victims of road crashes and their families through the National Road Victim Service, helping families cope with the shock, turmoil and devastation that road crashes cause families across the UK every day.

For more information, visit www.brake.org.uk