Key 2007 Road Accident Statistics

6. Casualties by Mode of Transport (Table 3)

6.1 In 2007 there were 9,953 car users injured in road accidents, representing just over three-fifths of all casualties (62%: 9,953 out of 16,063) and a 7% fall on 2006. Of these, a total of 1,237 were either killed or seriously injured (a 13% fall on 2006), with 160 fatalities (a 9% drop on 2006). Non built-up roads accounted for over half of all car user casualties (54%: 5,367 out of 9,953) but a much higher percentage of car user fatalities (89%: 143 out of 160) or those killed or seriously injured (74%: 911 out of 1,237). Again likely due to higher average speeds on these types of roads.

6.2 There were 2,682 pedestrian casualties recorded in 2007: a sixth of all casualties (17%: 2,682 out of 16,063). Of these, 640 were killed or seriously injured (61 fatalities). Perhaps because of the greater vulnerability of pedestrians, 24% of pedestrian casualties were killed or seriously injured (640 out of 2,682) compared with 12% of all car users (1,237 out of 9,953). 96% of pedestrian casualties occurred on built-up roads (2,567 out of 2,682). 43% of pedestrian casualties on non built-up roads were seriously injured or killed (50 out of 115) compared with 23% on built-up roads (590 out of 2,567).

6.3 Together, all other modes of transport accounted for a fifth (21%) of casualties in 2007 (3,428 out of 16,063) and for a roughly similar proportion of the total number of killed and seriously injured (28%: 721 out of 2,598). In 2007, 1,039 motor cycle casualties were reported (3% fewer than 2006), of whom 404 (39%) suffered fatal or serious injuries (40 died). There were 706 pedal cyclist casualties recorded in 2007, 10% fewer than in 2006. 149 (21%) of them were killed or seriously injured (4 died). A total of 616 bus and coach users were reported injured, of whom 33 were seriously injured (none died) - these low proportions presumably being due to the greater protection of their passengers by buses and coaches. The number of bus and coach user casualties fell by 19% in 2007.