The report “Road Casualties in Great Britain Q3 2010” published today (3 February) by the DfT includes National Statistics on road casualties in personal injury road accidents reported to the police in Great Britain for the third quarter of 2010.

The provisional estimates show the number of fatalities in road accidents were down by 21% for the 12 months ending September 2010 compared to the previous 12 months. Total casualties were down 3% and killed and seriously injured casualties down by 8%, compared with the previous 12 months. 

The AA has welcomed the statistics but says that more work is needed.

'Government, police and local authorities must not take their eyes off the ball,' said AA president Edmund King, 'the recession and severe winters have cut mileage and with it accidents. Fuel prices have changed driving habits and led to a growth in cycling, bringing increased cycle casualties. These trends need to be countered and the country's road safety effort has to prepare for better times when more people will drive. We do have a concern that cuts to police and local authority road safety budgets may undermine some of the progress in reducing casualties.'

The DfT report is available at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/rrcgbq32010