Road accidents: fall to 'all time' lows

The Department for Transport has published the statistical report Reported Road Casualties Great Britain 2008: Annual Report.

The number of fatalities and injuries reached historic lows, with reductions recorded across all vehicle categories

All fatal and injury accidents

In 2000, the Government set a new target for a reduction in the number of casualties in road accidents. By 2010 the aim is to achieve, compared with the average for 1994-98, a 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in accidents; and a 10 per cent reduction in the slight casualty rate.

Compared with the baseline (1994-98 average), in 2008:

?         the number of reported killed or seriously injured casualties was 40 per cent lower

?         the slight casualty rate was 36 per cent lower

This year, the Department undertook an analysis of road accidents by vehicle type and contributory factor. The principal factors for commercial vehicle are as follows.

Left-hand drive foreign hgvs were involved in 836 accidents where fatalities or injury occurred. This represents around 10 per cent of all such accidents involving hgvs in the Great Britain.

Accident minimisation forms a key theme to FTA's Transport Manager 2009 seminars. In its presentation, the Metropolitan Police Commercial Vehicle Education Unit considers the risks associated with drink and drug driving, and practical measures operators can to take reduce those risks. A presentation by the Health and Safety Executive considers recent trends in workplace accidents and new enforcement action linked to loading and unloading. FTA's Transport Manager 2009 seminars run between 16 September to 2 December at venues across the UK. For full details of the programme and to reserve your place, click here