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The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
‘Alarming' rise in number of motorcyclist deaths on British roads
New figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) revealed motorcyclist deaths in Britain increased by nine per cent last year. RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said the 'alarming' figures were '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'. Some 343 riders lost their lives in crashes in 2024, up from 315 during the previous 12 months, and making up 21 per cent of the total 1,633 people killed on Britain's roads last year. That was a one per cent rise from 1,624 in 2023, but an eight per cent fall from 1,775 in 2014. The DfT said the pattern for motorcyclist fatalities has remained 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 were 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. 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.' 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.' The DfT figures for 2024 are provisional.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Delivery drivers ‘behind rise in biker deaths'
The number of motorcyclists killed on Britain's roads rose last year because of the increasing popularity of food delivery apps, a leading motoring organisation has suggested. Government figures show that biker deaths increased by 9 per cent last year, despite most other categories of road deaths and injuries either remaining flat or declining year-on-year. Some 343 riders lost their lives in crashes in 2024, up from 315 in 2023, with motorcyclists making up 21 per cent of road deaths last year. Edmund King, president of the AA, blamed the rise in motorcycle deaths on the growing popularity of food delivery services. 'As more travellers switch to two wheels because of costs and for deliveries, the warning 'Think Bikes!' has never been more relevant. Today's statistics underline that,' he told The Telegraph. 'Move the dial on safety' Craig Carey-Clinch, executive director of the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), also warned that rules for motorcycle testing, training and licensing, which were set up in 2013, are 'now badly in need of reform'. 'The current regime is complex, expensive, presents barriers to access and repeats identical tests for those on the progressive stepped licensing route – while doing little to really move the dial on safety,' he said. 'The UK-only Compulsory Basic Training regime also needs reviewing and updating. The new Government indicated a few months ago that it would 'consider' reviewing it – it's about time that consideration is converted into action.' The figures published on Thursday show that there was also an increase in pedestrian deaths, up 2 per cent from 405 in 2023 to 413 in 2024. The total number of people killed on Britain's roads last year was 1,633 – a 1 per cent rise from 1,624 in 2023, but an 8 per cent fall from 1,775 in 2014. Mr 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.' 'Saving lives on the road' 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. Rod Dennis, the RAC's road safety spokesman, 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.'
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
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."
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Wales Online
The number of motorcyclist deaths on British roads are up 9% in a year
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info 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." The DfT figures for 2024 are provisional. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
Auto Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Auto Express
UK road deaths: four people die every day and it's only getting worse
A 'tragedy' has been declared as the number of people killed on UK roads rose slightly last year, with as many as four people losing their lives every day in traffic accidents. New Government provisional estimates show that 29,537 people were killed or seriously injured across the UK's road network in 2024, with as many as 1,633 losing their lives. Advertisement - Article continues below The one per cent increase in deaths over the previous year is the highest figure since before the pandemic, with men accounting for three quarters of all fatalities. An alarming nine per cent spike in motorcyclists losing their lives has partly fueled the uplift in deaths. This comes in stark contrast to the figure for 2023, when motorcyclist deaths fell by six per cent. Overall, 2024 saw fewer people injured (the total number dipped by around three per cent compared with 2023). But the Government website states that 'a considerable proportion of non-fatal casualties are not known to the police, as hospital, survey and compensation claims data all indicate a higher number of casualties than those recorded in police collision data'. The AA's president, Edmund King, dubbed every death and injury 'a tragedy'. He added: '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.' So why, in an age of advanced safety systems, Euro NCAP scores and stricter traffic laws are we beginning to see deaths creep up? There has been rising concern surrounding the failure to wear a seatbelt – in 2022, one in five fatalities involved someone not wearing one – as well as drug-driving. Police sources have told Auto Express that they are now beginning to catch more people driving under the influence of drugs than they are alcohol, claiming that narcotic use has become 'normalised' in recent years. The Government announced last year that it plans to draft the first new road safety strategy in more than a decade, which could see the introduction of a new Road Safety Investigation Branch (RSIB). IAM RoadSmart's director of policy and standards, Nicholas Lyes, said its publication 'can't come soon enough'. Auto Express asked the Department for Transport whether it would publish the strategy before the end of 2025, but has yet to receive a response. Want the latest car news in your inbox? Sign up to the free Auto Express email newsletter...
