WALKING is more dangerous than going by car, according to Social Trends, an annual snapshot of UK life.

Mile for mile, motorbikes are the most dangerous way to travel. Motorcyclists are killed at the rate of 169 for every billion miles travelled. The comparative figures are 59 pedestrians and 56 cyclists, while only four car passengers are killed for every billion miles driven.

The relative safety of car passengers means the school run has cut the number of children killed or injured on the roads.