Research of Department for Transport figures has shown that fatalities on British roads have dropped since 2007
The research suggests that a number of reasons account for this reduction:
- Exposure – the number of road users specifically who are in a high risk category, e.g. young males
- Economy – since the decline in the world economy and rising petrol pump prices, drivers appear to be adjusting their speed to drive more economically. There has been an increase in bicycle accidents which may be down to more people taking to use a bicycle.
- Weather – the harsh winter weather in recent years has caused drivers to be more careful when driving in adverse weather conditions
- Vehicle safety – improvements to secondary safety systems in vehicles has reduced injury severity
The research was conducted on behalf of Surrey County Council as part of their Drive SMART campaign. The full report can be found on the TRL website.