Pedestrian casualties on Britain’s roads peak in November each year, according to new analysis from Direct Line Car Insurance and PACTS (Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety).
Reviewing the available monthly road casualty data, from 2010-2014, the average number of reported serious pedestrian casualties rises from a low of 397 in August to a peak of 565 in November, an increase of 42%. Furthermore, pedestrians account for more than a quarter (26%) of serious injuries each November.
Car occupant casualty rates also peak in November, with an average of 832 serious injuries to drivers and their passengers in this month. Reviewing the available casualty statistics from the last five years, there are an average of 2,135 people killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads in November. People aged 16-24 account for 24% of the casualties on Britain’s roads over the course of the month.
Gus Park, director of motor insurcance at Direct Line, commented: “November is truly a bleak month for road casualties, with pedestrian and car casualties higher than any other point in the year. Road users need to be especially vigilant as the nights get darker earlier following the clocks change. We hope this analysis will spur the authorities to take immediate action, investing in education campaigns highlighting the distinct challenges of navigating the streets in the autumn and winter. The disproportionate number of casualties among young people travelling in cars highlights the urgent need to find new and engaging ways to reach these audiences and warn them of the dangers on the road.”
David Davies, executive director of PACTS, added: “The risk to road users is heightened in November as people travel more in periods of darkness. PACTS wants to see our roads and vehicles made safer for all road users so that small errors don’t result in death or life-changing injury. We now have the technology and understanding to do this. We need to get on with it. ”
