A county in rural areas lacking major highways ranked as the most hazardous location for driving in the UK last year, prompting calls for enhanced road safety measures nationwide.
Recent data released by the Department for Transport indicated 1,602 road fatalities in the UK in 2024, marking a marginal 1% decrease from the previous year. Additionally, 29,467 individuals suffered fatal or serious injuries, also showing a 1% decline from 2023, with a total of 128,272 casualties, a 4% decrease.
The highest number of fatalities occurred among car drivers and passengers (692), followed by pedestrians (409), and motorcyclists (340). Although car-related deaths declined by 5%, motorcyclist fatalities increased by 8%, and pedestrian deaths rose by 1%.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) expressed concern over the stagnation in road safety progress, emphasizing the urgent need for new safety approaches as vulnerable road users now constitute over half of all fatalities.
Regional disparities in road traffic accident rates were notable, with rural areas experiencing more severe incidents compared to urban centers. In 2024, 60% of all fatalities occurred on rural roads, accounting for 956 deaths, surpassing urban and motorway-related fatalities.
Lincolnshire reported the highest number of fatalities in 2024 among English upper-tier council areas without motorways, with 53 road-related deaths. Following Lincolnshire, Kent, Essex, Norfolk, and Lancashire recorded significant fatality numbers.
Kent recorded the second-highest fatality rate, with 45 deaths, while also reporting the highest number of severe injuries or fatalities (921). Surrey, Hampshire, Lancashire, and Essex followed in terms of severe casualties. Notably, Kent also had the most casualties of all severities, with 3,821 individuals affected by road traffic accidents.
Surrey ranked second in road traffic injuries (3,120), with Birmingham, Lancashire, and Essex also reporting high injury rates. RoSPA urged government and local authorities to prioritize proven safety measures in the upcoming National Road Safety Strategy, including lower speed limits in high-risk areas, targeted enforcement, safer infrastructure investments, and enhanced public education campaigns.
RoSPA advocated for measures such as expanding 20mph zones in residential and school areas to improve road safety. Rebecca Guy, Senior Policy Manager at RoSPA, emphasized the critical need for comprehensive measures in the national road safety strategy to prevent avoidable road incidents.
Last year, the majority of fatalities (76%) and casualties (61%) were male. Men aged 30-49 accounted for the highest number of fatalities (21%), followed by men aged 50-69 (21%).
Despite the challenges, Great Britain maintained its reputation as one of the safest countries for driving. With 24 fatalities per million people in 2024, the country ranked among the top in road safety, with only Norway, Sweden, and Malta reporting lower fatality rates per million population.