DfT publishes 2003 casualty figures

The DfT has published national statistics on road casualties in Great Britain for 2003.

The report contains detailed information on the number of people killed and injured on Britain's roads in 2003, based on information about accidents reported to the police.

The key points include:

• 3,508 people were killed on Britain's roads in 2003, two per cent more than in 2002. The number of people seriously injured fell to 33,707, six per cent lower than in 2002.
• Eight fewer children were killed on the roads in 2003 than in 2002, a fall of four per cent. The total number of children killed or seriously injured fell by 11 per cent.
• Provisional estimates indicate that the number of deaths in accidents involving drink driving was two per cent higher than in 2002. Final estimates will be available next year.
• Pedestrian casualties fell by six per cent between 2002 and 2003 and the number of killed or seriously injured pedestrians was down eight per cent.
• In 2003, the number of casualties among users of two wheeled motor vehicles rose slightly compared with 2002 and the number of deaths rose by 14 per cent to 693. Serious injuries rose by one per cent.
• The number of pedal cyclists killed or seriously injured fell by two per cent overall and the number of fatalities fell by 12 per cent.

The report provides extra information about accident circumstances, vehicle involvement and the consequent casualties in 2003, along with some of the key trends in accidents and casualties.

Road Casualties Great Britain 2003: Annual Report is published on the DfT website www.dft.gov.uk.