The number of people killed or injured in road accidents declined in 2009 according to Department for Transport statistics.
The number of people killed in road accidents fell by 12% from 2538 in 2008 to 2222 in 2009. In accidents reported to the police 26,096 people were killed or seriously injured in 2009, 6% fewer than in 2008. There were just over 222,000 road casualties in Great Britain in 2009, 4% less than in 2008.
The number of deaths among car users in 2009 was 1059, 16% less than in the previous year. The number seriously injured in accidents reported to the police fell by 6% to 10,053. Total reported casualties among car users were 143,412, 4% lower than 2008. Car and taxi traffic remained at about the same level as in 2008.
Reported child casualties fell by 6%. The number of children killed or seriously injured in 2009 was 2671 (down 5% on 2008). Of those, 1660 were pedestrians, 7% down on 2008. 81 children died on the roads, 43 less than in the previous year, a reduction of over a third.
There were 500 pedestrian deaths, 13% less than in 2008. Reported seriously injured casualties fell by 9% to 5545. The all-pedestrian casualty figure fell to 26,887 in 2009, 6% lower than 2008.
The number of pedal cyclists killed fell by 10% from 115 in 2008 to 104 in 2009. The number of seriously injured rose by 6% to 2606. The total casualties among pedal cyclists rose by 5% to 17,064.
There were 472 motorcycle user fatalities in 2009, 4% than during 2008. The number reported as seriously injured fell by 4% to 5350. Total reported motorcycle user casualties fell by 4% to 20,703 in 2008. Motorcycle traffic rose by 2% over the same period. The all-motorcycle user casualties figure for 2009 of 20,703 is 4% lower than in 2008.
There were 163,554 road accidents reported to the police involving personal injury in 2009, 4% fewer than in 2008. Of these, 21,997 accidents involved serious injuries, 5% fewer than in 2008 (23,121).
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