Casualty Information
In 1994-98, on average, 398 people were killed or seriously injured (KSI) in road traffic collisions in Bedfordshire and Luton, including 53 children per year. The purpose of the Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership is to reduce the number of casualties on our roads, in line with national and local targets. These are to reduce KSI casualties by at least 40%, and reduce child KSI casualties by at least 50% by 2010, compared to the annual average from 1994-98.
In 2007, KSI were reduced by 31% overall, and child KSI were reduced by 60%. This is equivalent to 125 fewer people being killed and seriously injured per year.
Progress towards 2010
The chart below shows the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads since the mid-nineties.
|
Casualties |
1994-98 annual average |
2007 |
% reduction by 2007 |
2010 target |
|
People killed |
39 |
27 |
|
|
|
People seriously injured |
359 |
246 |
|
|
|
Total KSI casualties |
398 |
273 |
-31% |
<239 / -40% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Children killed |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
Children seriously injured |
50 |
20 |
|
|
|
Total child KSI casualties |
53 |
21 |
-60% |
<27 / - 50% |
The circumstances of all KSI casualty collisions are analysed by highway safety experts to establish the likely cause and contributory factors and to identify what measures, if any, could be taken to prevent similar collisions occurring. It is this intelligence-led approach to casualty reduction initiatives that informs our activities to ensure that we have the maximum impact on road safety.
The chart below shows a breakdown of fatal and serious road traffic casualties by type of road user.
Fatal and Serious Road Casualties in Bedfordshire and Luton 2007
by Type of Road User
Car drivers account for 28% of all KSI casualties, with young drivers aged 17 to 24 representing one third of these
Motorcyclists represent less than 2% of traffic, but 21% of KSI casualties, showing they are at greater risk of being involved in a collision than other road users
1 in 5 casualties are pedestrians, with 80% as a result of their own error
