The number of motorcyclist deaths on British roads are up 9% in a year
Motorcyclist deaths in Britain increased by 9% last year, Department for Transport (DfT) figures show. Some 343 riders lost their lives in crashes in 2024, up from 315 during the previous 12 months.
Motorcyclists made up 21% of road fatalities last year. There was also an increase in pedestrian deaths, up 2% from 405 in 2023 to 413 in 2024.
The total number of people killed on Britain's roads last year was 1,633. That was a 1% rise from 1,624 in 2023, but an 8% fall from 1,775 in 2014. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
The DfT said the pattern for motorcyclist fatalities remains relatively stable over the last 10 years. AA president Edmund King said: "Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and sadly we are still losing at least four people a day.
"If this level of loss was experienced on any other form of transport, there would be a national inquiry and public outcry. Yet, for some reason, we seem to accept this as the risk of moving around our communities. This should not be the case."
Mr King called for the Government's upcoming road safety strategy to include "bold action" such as harsher penalties for not wearing a seatbelt or drug-driving.
He also stressed the need to "safeguard newly qualified drivers" to ensure they feel confident on the road before "exposing them to additional risks" such as carrying passengers of a similar age.
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis described the figures as "alarming". He said: "This data is yet more evidence of the need for a renewed focus on saving lives on the roads, so we look forward to the publication of the Government's road safety strategy."
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said: "These figures demonstrate a troubling lack of progress in bringing down fatal and serious injuries on our road network. Moreover, 2024 saw a significant increase in the number of motorcyclists that were killed, further highlighting that more needs to be done to protect some of the most vulnerable road users."
A DfT spokesperson said: "Every death on our roads is a tragedy and the safety of our roads is an absolute priority for this Government. We've been clear that more needs to be done in this space, which is why we are committed to delivering a new road safety strategy – the first in over a decade – and will set out next steps on this in due course."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Reporter
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Looking back in history with the Old Edinburgh Club this month
Each month the Old Edinburgh Club look back in their records at some of the notable events that have taken place in history. 2nd In 1581, James Douglas, Earl of Morton, was executed on the Maiden, a form of guillotine which he himself had imported from France; In 1580, Morton was accused of being complicit in the murder of Mary's estranged husband, Lord Darnley, and was sentenced to death; his head, however, remained on 'the prick on the highest stone' (a spike) on the north gable of the ancient Tolbooth of Edinburgh (outside St Giles Cathedral), for eighteen months. 3rd In 1597, William Stewart killed Robert Cathcart, who was relieving himself on the wall at the head of Peebles Wynd, in revenge for his being present at the murder of Stewart's father. And in 1726, James Hutton, founder of modern geology, was born in Edinburgh. Also in 1846, Dr Thomas Chalmers laid the foundation stone of New College on the Mound, the home of the School of Divinity. 4th In 1694, the Merchant Maiden Hospital, later known as The Mary Erskine School, was founded by Mary Erskine in the Cowgate. And in 1792, the most serious outbreak of the King's Birthday riots began, lasting three days and nights which coincided with the birthday of King George III; during the riots at least one person was killed, and an effigy of the King hung; these were a response to the Corn Laws which had led to a rise in food prices. Also in 1818, gun maker Alexander Henry was born in Leith & on the same day the first recorded inter-club golf match between Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society and Bruntsfield Links Golf Club took place. 5th In 1560, the Treaty of Edinburgh (also known as the Treaty of Leith) was a treaty drawn up between the Commissioners of Queen Elizabeth I of England with the assent of the Scottish Lords of the Congregation, and the French representatives of King Francis II of France (husband of Mary Queen of Scots) to formally conclude the siege of Leith and replace the Auld Alliance with France with a new Anglo-Scottish accord, while maintaining the peace between England and France agreed by the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis. And in 1592, an Act of the Scottish Parliament came into force 'concerning the Office of Lyoun King of Armes and his brether Heraldis' creating the best regulated system of armorial bearings in Europe. Also in 1868, James Connolly, an Irish republican and socialist leader, was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh to Irish-born parents; he left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of his day; he also took a role in Scottish and American politics and was executed by a British firing squad because of his leadership role in the Easter Rising of 1916. 6th In 1733, the Edinburgh Company of Players began a series of performances at the Tailors' Hall in the Cowgate, the first public theatre in Edinburgh. 8th In 1783, volcanic eruptions that started at the Laki fissure in Iceland killed tens of thousands in Europe as a choking sulphurous haze spread across the continent, causing respiratory failure from the poisonous gases; dark and gloomy weather hit Scotland before a sulphurous haze turned crops black; cold winters followed for the next four years. 9th In 1573, Sir William Maitland, the man Mary Queen of Scots named 'Secretary Maitland', died at Leith Prison. And in 1648, Alexander Denholm, a baker, was imprisoned in the Tolbooth for a second time for his reckless behaviour and actions in making some rash comments to the Duke of Hamilton in the High Street; he was armed with a sword and a pair of pistols without permission of the magistrates. Also in 1991, the Palace Hotel on the corner of Princes Street and Castle Street was accidentally set on fire. 10th In 1903, the floral clock in Princes Street Gardens began operation – driven by clockwork and with only an hour hand, it was the first of its kind in the world. 11th In 1560, Mary of Guise died of dropsy in Edinburgh Castle 12th In 1754, the contract for the construction of the Royal Exchange (today's City Chambers) was settled, work commencing the following day. 13th In 1831, scientist James Clerk Maxwell was born at number 14 India Street, Edinburgh; on his arrival at the Edinburgh Academy in 1841, he was nicknamed 'daftie' by his classmates, due to his home-made clothing and rustic accent; despite the teasing, he excelled at the school, producing a paper on mathematical curves at the age of fourteen – this impressed scientists of the day so much that it was presented to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 15th In 1567, the Queen (Mary of Scots) handed herself over to the Lords of the Congregation who took her to the house of the Lord Provost, Sir Simon Preston, in Edinburgh; his house was known as the Black Turnpike which stood at the head of Peebles Wynd; it was demolished in the 1780s to make way for the South Bridge and Hunter Square. And in 1689, the siege of Edinburgh Castle ended when the Governor of the Castle, George Gordon, first Duke of Gordon, and his men agreed to the articles of surrender and the Jacobite garrison marched out to Castle Hill. Also in 1698, the council authorised the Town Treasurer, Samuel McClellan, to arrange stonemasons and carpenters for the construction of a Bedlam house; this was constructed in the New or South Greyfriars yard. 16th In 1890, the Caledonian Rail Station, built of timber with a pitched, slated roof and which had been called the 'wooden shanty', was destroyed by fire. 17th In 1605, a battle was fought in the High Street at the Salt Tron between the Laird of Ogle of Perthshire, the younger & his associates and Wishart, the young Laird of Pitarrow in the Mearns; the fight lasted 2 hours and a number were hurt on both sides; the following day they were imprisoned; also William Thomson was killed by John Waterstoone who was beheaded the next day on Castlehill. 18th In 1633, the coronation of King Charles I took place at Holyrood. And in 1815, Ensign Ewart captured the French Ensign at the Battle of Waterloo as commemorated in the pub in the Lawnmarket. 19th In 1566, James VI was born in Edinburgh Castle. 20th In 1941, one of Edinburgh's most serious and tragic public transport accidents happened at Inchview Terrace when a bus swerved and collided violently with a tramcar, which was travelling in the opposite direction; the side of the bus was ripped off and those on the affected side were either killed or injured; a kitten escaped from a basket and jumped on the face of the bus driver causing him to lose control. 22nd image courtesy of Hetty Lancaster 22nd In 1861, Edinburgh-born James Braidwood died in the Tooley Street fire at Cotton's Wharf near London Bridge station; Braidwood established the world's first municipal fire service, the Edinburgh Fire Establishment. 23rd In 1829, the new Royal High School was formally opened with a procession from the old High School when Deacon Lorimor, the contactor, handed the keys over to the Lord Provost. And in 1954, George Robertson, convicted of murder, became the last person hanged in Edinburgh. 24th In 1562, the provost, bailies, and council ordered that the idol, St Giles, was to be cut out of the town's flag and a thistle put in its place. 25th In 1992, a major fire broke out at the former Ritchie's building, rendering it to little more than pile of rubble and ash; the authorities were left with little choice but to demolish the blackened structure. 26th Darien House 26th In 1695, the Company of Scotland, which was behind the ill-fated Darien Scheme (an attempt to establish a colony in the New World), was founded; the Company had its headquarters at Darien House in Edinburgh; the company was ruined within five years after the failure of the scheme within which up to a third of the country's wealth became entangled; attempts to trade with local tribes proved almost impossible and after a run of disease and the refusal of help from the existing Spanish and English colonies, the settlement was abandoned; the failure of the Company led to the political union of Scotland and England in 1707. 27th In 1774, the foundation stone of General Register House was laid by Lord Frederick Campbell, Lord Register of Scotland. And in 1936, folk singer Robin Hall was born in Edinburgh; he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Drama and recorded more than twenty albums, which included well-loved tunes such as The Mingulay Boat Song and Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny aff a Bus. 28th In 1571, the Earl of Morton conducted a body of Scots, who adhered to the King (James VI), from Leith to Restalrig, where they drew up in order of battle against the Queen's forces who had marched from Edinburgh to confront them; about 50 of Queen Mary's men were slain whilst only 2 of Morton's were killed. 29th In 1610, thirty-six pirates were brought to Edinburgh from Orkney of whom twenty-seven were hanged in Leith within the sea-mark. And in 1871, the tramways bill was passed enabling a horse-drawn system of trams to be established. Also in 1916, the Senate of Edinburgh University recommended to the University Court that the classes in the Faculty of Medicine should be open to women. Compiled by Jerry Ozaniec, Membership Secretary of the Old Edinburgh Club, [email protected] Like this: Like Related
Spectator
2 hours ago
- Spectator
Ash Regan's prostitution blunder
To Scotland, where once Britain's greatest schools were found. These days, sadly, that can no longer be said, thanks to the SNP's mismanagement over the past 18 years in office. One of those who served as a minister in its wretched regime was Ash Regan, who held the Scottish Government's Community Safety brief from 2018 to 2022. Having failed to win the party leadership in 2023, she now sits as an MSP in the Alex Salmond fan club that is the Alba party. Her latest Holyrood initiative is to restart the debate on prostitution north of the border. Regan is championing a new 'Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill' which aims to criminalise the buying of sex in Scotland while decriminalising those selling sexual services. The 51-year-old is in the midst of a big publicity push for her Bill. But it seems she has now come unstuck in her latest interview with
Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Give prison officers the lethal weapons ‘they need', Jenrick says
The Conservatives said secure armouries should be introduced at maximum security jails to be used as a last resort. They have also called for high-collar stab vests to be provided to frontline officers immediately, citing the threat from inmates after recent attacks on prison officers. Robert Jenrick commissioned counter-extremism expert and former prison governor Ian Acheson to carry out a rapid review into the violence (Yui Mok/PA) Mr Jenrick said there is a growing risk that a prison officer could be kidnapped or murdered in the line of duty without his proposed reforms. 'We have to stop pussy-footing around Islamist extremists and violent offenders in jails,' he said in a statement. 'Give them Tasers, give them stun grenades, give them baton rounds and give them access to lethal weapons,' he told the Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News. 'Let's ensure the officers have what they need,' he added. 'The Chief Inspector of Prisons himself has said that he can see a situation where people like Islamist terrorists get access through drones to weapons, to explosives, hold prison officers hostage, even kill officers. 'This is going to happen unless the Government take action.' Mr Jenrick commissioned counter-extremism expert and former prison governor Ian Acheson to carry out a rapid review into the violence. Mr Acheson said: 'The threat to officer safety is now intolerable and must be met decisively by the Government. 'The balance inside too many of our prisons has shifted away from control by the state to mere containment and the price is soaring levels of staff assaults and wrecked rehabilitation.' It come after attacks by high-profile inmates. Manchester Arena plotter Hashem Abedi targeted prison staff with boiling oil and homemade weapons in a planned ambush last month. Southport killer Axel Rudakubana (Merseyside Police/PA) Southport killer Axel Rudakubana allegedly attacked a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh earlier this month by pouring boiling water over them. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered a snap review into whether stab vests should be used more routinely, and a trial that will give specialised officers dealing with serious incidents Tasers is due to be launched this summer. Officers already have access to batons and Pava spray, a synthetic form of pepper spray, in men's prisons in the public sector. Asked whether he could see that the public would want him to take responsibility for failing prisons as a former government minister, Mr Jenrick told the BBC's Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'We should have done more, but look, what Labour are doing now is making the problem worse, and they are reaching for the easy lever of letting prisoners out early.' More than 10,000 prisoners were released up to 70 days early by the Tory government, according to Ministry of Justice figures. Under the End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) scheme, announced in October 2023, some prisoners could be freed 18 days before their conditional release date. That was increased to 35 days in March, and then to 70 days in May. The number of ECSL releases between October 17 and June 30 was 10,083, the data shows. Responding to the shadow justice secretary's comments, a Labour Party spokesperson said: 'Robert Jenrick is once again being totally dishonest about the Conservatives' dire record in a desperate attempt to distract from the crisis they left behind in our prison system. 'In 14 years they added fewer than 500 prison places in total and closed 1,600 cells in the high-security estate as assaults on prison officers soared and experienced officers quit. 'This Labour Government is cleaning up the mess the Conservatives created with a £4.7 billion investment to build new prisons and a zero-tolerance approach to violence in the system.'
