Deaths and serious injuries on roads in East Midlands declined last year
New data shows in 2019, 2651 people were killed or seriously injured. In 2020 this figure decreased to 2137
In 2019, 2651 people were killed or seriously injured, but due to quieter traffic during the pandemic, this number reduced to 2137 in 2020.
The figures have been released to time in with the start of Road Safety week.
The drop of a fifth in deaths and serious injuries across the UK as a whole, on roads in 2020, due to lockdowns reducing traffic, was the first decline in years and heralds renewed efforts to make roads safe for us all, say road safety campaigners in Road Safety Week (15–21 November).
An analysis of Government statistics by road safety charity Brake indicates about 300 deaths and more than 6,000 serious injuries were prevented due to lighter traffic in 2020, compared with 2019.
Road deaths and serious injuries declined across the East of England by 591 people or 24 per cent last year compared with 2019 – the fourth largest reduction, in terms of percentage, nationally.
There were, however, still 1,460 deaths and more than 22,000 serious injuries on roads in 2020, causing devastation to families across the country.
As traffic levels rise again, Road Safety Week is celebrating the work of road safety heroes across the country who are working to tackle deaths and serious injuries and turn the one-year drop into a downward trend, including Government plans for a new road safety strategy; local authorities building cycle paths; companies working to ensure they use vehicles safely; and communities working for changes where they live, such as 20mph speed limits.
This year’s campaign also celebrates the invaluable efforts of the emergency services, including those who police the roads and save lives, at the roadside and in hospitals, and the work of the National Road Victim Service, caring for the emotional and practical needs of road victim families, as well as community services including mental health services and disability and peer support charities.
Brake, which co-ordinates the annual campaign, is calling for individuals, communities and organisations to share stories of their own road safety heroes – through social media, in schools, in company team meetings or special events.
Jason Wakeford, Head of Campaigns at Brake, said: “Road Safety Week is the UK’s biggest annual road safety campaign and is a great opportunity to speak up for road safety. This year everyone can acknowledge and celebrate the heroic efforts of people working to save lives on roads across the country - and recognise that we can all be road safety heroes by using roads safely and taking actions for road safety in our families, schools, communities and where we work.
“We would urge everyone to visit the Road Safety Week website for loads of ways to take part in the campaign all this week.”
Ailsa Firth, HR Director and CSR Community sponsor at Arval UK, said: “Within the fleet industry there is a reliance on support from so many of the emergency services, professionals and unsung heroes out there who help to keep people safe on their journeys.
“We cannot think of a better way to celebrate and recognise those heroes, by making them central to Road Safety Week 2021 and highlighting the great work they are doing in communities and organisations across the country.”
Jon Furmston, Openreach Director for Assurance and Governance, said: “Making sure that everyone gets home safe every day is paramount to everything we do at Openreach. Reducing road risk is key to that and we strive to do everything we can to keep our drivers, other road users and members of the public safe when we’re out in our vehicles keeping the UK connected.
“We’re delighted to be supporting Road Safety Week 2021 as it’s such an important issue and look forward to celebrating all the fantastic people who are working to make our roads safer for everyone.”