Motorcycle deaths up

Motorcycle road deaths rose by 5% between 2005 and 2006, according to dismal new Government accident figures published this morning.

The number of children killed also rose by 20%, sparking fresh criticism of the Government’s speed camera programme.

There were 599 rider fatalities last year, according to Road Casualties Great Britain 2006: Main Results. The number of rider deaths and serious injuries lumped together remained static, while all rider casualties fell by 6%.

The number of child deaths rose to 169 compared to 141 the previous year.
The death rate for all road users was down by just 1% while car user deaths fell by 4%. 

All casualties fell by 5% to 258,404, but the report also stated that a significant number of non-fatal casualties are not reported to the police and therefore not included in the figures.

It’s the second year in a row that Government has reported a failure to make any real impact on road deaths. Last year the reported fall was also only 1%.

The poor performance for motorcycles compared to car drivers means we may be criticised for bringing the average reduction in deaths down.

Paul Smith, founder Safe Speed, said the finger should be pointed instead at speed cameras. He said: “Most of our European neighbours are achieving falls of 4% or more and we’re entitled to at least that.

“Our road safety policies aren’t working. There’s far too much focus on vehicle speeds and no focus at all on driver quality.

“Speed cameras are at the centre of the policy failure and must go. We have to cut out the cameras to cut out the dogma that is crippling road safety efforts in Britain.”
More in-depth figures will be published later in the year.

See the figures here: https://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=295326&NewsAreaID=2&HUserID=878,793,889,857,780,868,872,845,786,674,677,767,684,762,718,674,708,683,706,718,674