Road deaths decrease by 2% to 1,713 in 2013 compared to 2012

The Department of Transports final statistics on road casualties in Great Britain for 2013 showed a 2% reduction in those killed and a 6% reduction in reported serious injuries; child casualties fell 9% to 15,956. The Government hailed these as the “lowest since records began”.
In reported road traffic accidents in 2013:

• Road deaths decreased by 2% compared to 2012, to 1,713. This is the lowest figure since national records began in 1926
• The number of people seriously injured decreased by 6% to 21,657, compared to 2012
• The total number of casualties in road accidents reported to the police was 183,670, down 6% from the 2012 total
• Total reported child casualties (ages 0-15) fell by 9% to 15,756, compared to 2012. The number of children killed or seriously injured also fell, decreasing by 13% to 1,980, compared to 2012
• A total of 138,660 personal-injury road accidents were reported to the police, 5% lower than in 2012
• Vehicle traffic levels have remained broadly stable with a small increase of 0.4% between 2012 and 2013

Figures for deaths refer to people who sustained injuries which caused death less than 30 days after the accident.