This article uses road accident statistics and other 1989-1991 data for the UK, and some forecasts up to the year 2000, as a basis for discussing progress so far towards the UK's casualty reduction targets. The overall target is to reduce annual casualties on British roads from about 330,000 in 1981-1985 to about 220,000 in 2000. There are higher target reductions for more vulnerable groups of road users. The paper examines progress towards the targets by considering numbers of casualties on roads in built-up and non-built-up areas, and for different types of road users. The results are presented in charts, and mostly concern killed and seriously injured (KSI) casualties, although they also cover slightly injured casualties. For KSI casualties, special attention is devoted to pedestrians, pedal cyclists, motor-cyclists, and car users, all analysed by age group. The author concludes that progress in reducing KSI casualties among vulnerable users in younger and older age groups and among bus and coach users is consistent with the corresponding national targets. Progressis especially good among young motorcyclists. But there is less progress in reducing KSI casualties among vulnerable road users aged 25-59, and much less progress among users of cars and goods vehicles, at least until 1990. There is little progress so far in reducing slightly injured casualties except among motorcyclists. Some of the apparent reductions may reflect transfers to safer travel modes.
Samenvatting