Decline in road deaths
Avon and Somerset Police have reported a significant reduction in the number of road deaths in the force area. That is a 21% fall year on year.
As ever the longer term trend will tell us if this is a result of a sustained improvement or not. For the moment the significant fall in deaths is bound to be welcomed.
In 2018, there were 393 incidents that were identified as KSIs (this is force jargon for killed or seriously injured) compared to 478 incidents in 2014. This improvement is despite the huge increase in the number of vehicles on the road. In 2017 there were 2,486,591 registered vehicles on the road across Avon and Somerset, an increase of 8.6% since 2014.
PCC Sue Mountstevens welcomed the figures “It is encouraging to see such a big reduction in the number of KSI collisions on our roads. Although one life lost in a collision is one too many, thanks to the hard work of the Roads Policing Unit, our roads are becoming increasingly safer for all road users.
Ahead of a busy bank holiday, it’s important that we remind people to be tolerant of one another on our roads. I know road safety is a concern for local people and drivers using the roads unsafely can have a devastating impact on others and their families.”