The UK Government is seeking to substantially reduce the number of road traffic accidents (RTAs) leading to injury or loss of life. Specifically, relative to the average figures for 1994–98, the Government would like to meet the following road casualty reduction targets by 2010: a 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents; a 50% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured in road accidents; a 10% reduction in the slight casualty rate, expressed as the number of people slightly injured per 100 vehicle kilometres. To develop effective strategies for reducing RTAs, the cause of accidents must be understood. With this in mind, the On the Spot (OTS) project was commissioned to gather in-depth information at the scene of accidents. Since the data collection began in 2000, more than 3,000 accidents have been recorded, and more than 2,000 were available when this study was started in November 2005. This report details the technical strategy and findings of the analysis undertaken, and provides recommendations on how these findings can be used to inform the formation of road safety policy. (Author/publisher)
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