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Jan 2021

Last Updated: 18/01/2021

Crime

Rise in number of deaths on North Yorkshire's roads

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 19 Jan, 2021

A road safety report released yesterday showed the number of people killed increased last year from 32 to 37. But the total number of accidents continued to decrease.

The number of people killed in road collisions in North Yorkshire increased last year from 32 to 37, according to the county's latest annual report on road safety.

The report, released yesterday by North Yorkshire County Council, compares statistics from 2018 and 2019.

Although fatalities increased, the number of people seriously injured saw a nine per cent reduction from 329 to 298.

The total number of people injured in road collisions also decreased from 1,750 to 1,445 — a fall of 17 per cent.

Road collisions have been on a downward trend since 2002.

The report also reveals there was a 27 per cent decrease in the number of children injured in collisions. The number fell from 111 in 2018 to 81 in 2019. No children were killed in road accidents in 2019.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:

“Each death on the county’s roads is one too many, so it is sad to see an increase in the number of people killed in collisions and highlights the importance of all of us taking responsibility for travelling safely.

“We have been consulting on plans for a series of works to be financed by the Government’s safer roads fund, which seeks to address issues on the 50 A-roads identified as being the most dangerous in the country."

Roadworks are set to continue throughout the third lockdown.

North Yorkshire Police has said it will continue to challenge people breaking travel restrictions during the lockdown.

“Our officers have already delivered a range of improvement projects on those roads in the county which qualified for investment and have been reviewing your feedback on other proposals which we are hopeful can come to fruition soon. We are confident these improvements would have a positive effect on future road collision statistics.”

Cllr Mackenzie acknowledged the 2020 statistics may have been affected by reduced traffic levels due to covid restrictions but he added the council was confident of continuing the downward trend in accident numbers.

Schools were encouraged in 2020 to take up national and local campaigns, such as “be safe, be seen” and mobile phone pedestrian safety.

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Rise in number of deaths on North Yorkshire's roads

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