RoSPA is calling on the Government to implement a comprehensive road safety strategy as the latest statics on road deaths and injuries show ‘no significant change’.

Statistics released by the Department for Transport show that 1,732 people died on British roads in 2015, down by 2% from 1,775 in the previous years. There was also a fall in the number of people seriously injured, by 3% to 22,137.

RoSPA points out that although fatalities are down by 45% from 2006, and the figure is the second lowest on record, there has been no significant change since 2011.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at RoSPA, said: “We are pleased to see that fatalities and injuries have dropped since 2014, but the longer-term trend seems to be showing stagnation, so they are not falling steadily as they were before 2011.

“This means that we need to do more to get back on a long-term downward trend – these accidents don’t have to happen.”

RoSPA’s suggested road safety strategy to help prevent deaths and life-changing injuries would include:

• Introducing a package of measures to reduce crashes involving young drivers, such as graduated driver licensing.
• Helping employers to reduce the risks their staff face and create when they drive or ride for work.
• Maximising the road safety benefits of telematics and similar technologies for young drivers, businesses and commercial drivers.
• Creating a safer road environment for cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists to reduce casualties and help people who want to walk, cycle or ride motorcycles, but are deterred from doing so because they think it is not safe enough.
• Introducing safer vehicles into our fleet as quickly as possible as vehicle technology improves.
• Ensuring there are sufficient numbers of road police officers to properly enforce road safety laws.
• Reducing the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, to match Scotland and most of Europe.
• Adopting Single/Double British Summer Time.