Figures obtained from the Department of Transport have revealed that 1 person was killed and 50 people were seriously injured on Torbay’s roads in 2017.
No children were killed in any of the accidents in 2017, however 2 were taken to hospital following a serious injury.
Overall the figure for people killed and seriously injured on Torbay’s roads has decreased from 41, the yearly average in 2010, to 23 in 2017.
Change over time
The figures presented are provided by the DfT (Department for Transport) which uses the yearly average to measure change over a period of time.
The number of road casualties in Torbay, which includes minor incidents, decreased by 44% over that time to 322.
Thanks to technology the overall picture of road safety on England’s road is changing for the better.
However, while there are fewer accidents, when these events do occur they are more severe and are often fatal.
The number of people killed or seriously injured across the entire England road network increased by over 12% over the time period.
The data includes any injury sustained with a vehicle on the road.
The injuries do not have to include cars.
The data will take into consideration a bike colliding with a pedestrian, someone falling over while cycling etc.
Essentially whenever a patient is taken to hospital as a result of being on the road and has a serious injury.
Sobering Reading
RAC Road Safety Spokesman, Pete Williams said:
This new data makes for sobering reading – there has now been no substantial reduction in fatalities since 2010, with the numbers killed on the roads remaining stubbornly high.
It also remains the case that casualties among some vulnerable road user groups, specifically pedestrians and motorcyclists, are rising, which is a concern
In Torbay, in 2017, 1 pedestrian was killed. Of those seriously injured 21 were pedestrians, 11 were cyclists and 8 were riding a motorbike.
RAC Road Safety Spokesman, Pete Williams said:
With traffic levels rising, and people’s dependency on the car also increasing, a shift in focus is needed at both national and local levels to begin to tackle the problem.
On a day-to-day basis, it is every driver’s responsibility to ensure they are driving safely by not breaking speed limits and reducing distractions in their vehicles so their attention remains firmly on the road.
Lowest in Devon
Torbay’s casualty rate is lower than Devon’s average.
It is also lower than the England casualty rate.
Despite the encouraging figures for our local area, a lot of work is still needed nationally.
Brake, the road safety charity, called on the Government to lower speed limits:
A spokesman said:
Our most vulnerable road users, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, remain at dangerously high risk on our roads, paying the price for the dominance of the motor car in our lives.
Pedestrian deaths increased to their highest level this decade whilst motorcyclists now account for nearly a fifth of all road deaths, despite their small numbers.
The Government must invest in active travel to give people safe and healthy ways to get around and focus on improving the safety of our roads – starting with lower speed limits.
