Serious bike crashes up

Serious and fatal motorcycle crashes have risen while slight casualties have fallen, according to Government figures published today.

Department for Transport (DFT) provisional estimates for the first quarter of 2007 report that the most serious motorcycle crashes rose by 6% compared to the previous year, while slight casualties fell by 4% and all rider casualties fell by 1%.

The only road users for whom deaths and serious injuries fell were drivers. The rate for car users dropped 5% while the rate for pedestrians and cyclists rose 2% and 1% respectively.

Death and serious injuries for all road users remained static, making 2007 potentially the third year in succession in which Government road safety policy has apparently failed to impact on deaths.

The DFT has also reported that not all casualties are recorded. It said trends in road casualties based on hospital admissions showed a lower fall in recent years than its own casualty figures, which are based on police reports. It said the discrepancy could be partly due to the fewer accidents being reported to the police. 

See the full details here: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/rcgbqtr012007

Get MCN on August 15 to find out why the RAC Foundation thinks cars could be to blame for pushing up casualty rates for the rest of us.