The number of people killed in crashes on Britain’s roads rose by 10 per cent last year as fatalities returned to pre-pandemic levels.
A total of 1,711 people lost their life in 2022, up from 1,558 in 2021, when traffic levels were suppressed by the covid lockdowns. The 2022 total is two per cent lower than in 2019.
In London, there were 101 fatal road collisions, resulting in 103 deaths – a figure first reported by Transport for London in May.
The London total was a 35 per cent increase on the 75 deaths recorded in the capital in 2021 but was the lowest number of deaths over the last decade, excluding the pandemic years.
The figures were published by the Department for Transport in its annual report on road deaths in Britain.
There were five fatalities for every billion miles travelled - up two per cent on 2019.
The number of pedestrian deaths (385) was down 18 per cent on pre-pandemic levels (470 in 2019).
But the number of car occupants killed increased by seven per cent, to 788. One in five car occupants who died were not wearing a seatbelt.
A total of 91 cyclists were killed on Britain’s roads last year, down from 100 in 2019. Seven people were killed cycling in London in 2022, down from 10 in 2021. Five cyclists have been killed so far in the capital in 2023.
The main factors that contributed to fatal road collisions were loss of control, the driver or rider failing to look properly, being careless, reckless or in a hurry and, in almost 20 per cent of cases, exceeding the speed limit.
The number of people being killed or seriously injured due to “drug driving” exceeded 1,000 for the first time.
Edmund King, director of the AA Charitable Trust, said; “Every death on our roads is a tragedy and it is worrying that after the pandemic, road deaths are rising.
“It is a preventable tragedy that a fifth of people who die in cars on our roads are not wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelts are arguably the greatest ever road safety invention but they are entirely useless if they are not worn.
“Worrying still is that the number of people killed or seriously injured due to the driver of a vehicle being under the influence of drugs reached a record high of 1,023. We need an increase in police drug drive testing at the roadside so that those tempted to do so will think again.”
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Confirmation that last year saw a rise in the number of casualties on our roads – and that men are so much more likely to be involved – is a chilling reminder that there remains so much work to do be done to improve road safety in the UK, even if statistically we have some of the safest roads in Europe.
“The data shows there were more fatal collisions last year than at any point over the last decade caused by drivers or riders being distracted, impaired (458 lives lost) or breaking the speed limit (303 lives lost).”
The figures also revealed that 60 pedestrians were seriously injured and one was killed in collisions with e-scooter riders last year.
A further 172 pedestrians were recorded as suffering slight injuries when being hit by an e-scooter rider.
E-scooters are illegal to use on the pavement and on public roads but have become an increasing menace, with many illegally adapted to travel in excess of the 15.5mph speed cap for Government-approved rental e-scooters.
The report, which is based on police figures, said there were 12 e-scooter fatalities in 2022 – 11 riders and the pedestrian.
There were 1,402 collisions involving e-scooters, up from 1,352 in 2021. This resulted in a total of 1,492 casualties, up from 1,434.
More than 300 of the casualties were male teenagers. Collisions are most common around 8am and between 4pm and 5pm.
About a quarter of the collisions – 379 incidents – happened in London. The vast majority involved privately-owned e-scooters, not the sturdier vehicles used in the rental schemes.
