The extent of the inaccuracies in the 2008 road casualty figures and the implications this has for casualty reduction targets is discussed. The total number of casualties recorded was 230,905 but the actual figure, when information from hospital sources and insurance claims are considered, is estimated to be in the region of 800,000. The STATS 19 figures currently used are detailed and consistent but lack information concerning certain types of injury. The type of information provided by insurance claims and Hospital Episodes Statistics and the drawbacks of each source are considered. It is suggested that the inaccuracy of the figures has made the government's 10 year targets, based on these figures, meaningless. The possibility of combining the three main sources of figures is considered to be impractical due to the investment that would be required. The recommendation is made that statistics from A & E and other health service facilities should be used in a more defined way to produce casualty statistics. More detailed information on the circumstances of accidents could be based on STATS 19 data, which is considered invaluable, and described as a survey rather than a statistic. Discrepancies in cycle accident reporting in particular are noted.
Abstract