South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 15/05/2013

Accident statistics for 2012 reveal that the number of road accidents involving injuries to one or more people fell below 500 for the first time in 16 years, to 489 incidents.

In total, 653 casualties were recorded during the year, of which seven were fatal. The casualty figures are also the lowest recorded since 1996 and 8 per cent lower than 2011.

Chair of the council’s Planning and Transportation Committee Cllr Brian Allinson welcomed the figures. “South Gloucestershire has always had some of the safest roads in the country and today’s figures continue this pattern.

“I’m particularly encouraged to see that we now have the safest roads since the council was formed back in 1996. It’s a really significant figure and one we should all celebrate.

“However we can’t afford to be complacent. Any casualty on our roads is a casualty too many, and I’m grateful to road users for their continued efforts to take care when driving, cycling and crossing our roads.

Today’s figures reflect national data which show that in 2011 – the most recent year for which national figures are available – South Gloucestershire had the lowest average casualty rates per billion vehicle miles travelled among the English local authorities.

Within the district the average rate for 2011 was 301, compared with a national average for England of 691. The highest casualty rate per billion vehicle miles travelled was recorded in the City of London, with an average of 3,729.

The council works closely with the police and other agencies to monitor where people are injured on South Gloucestershire’s road network and who is involved. This information is used to target spending on areas with the highest accident rates and the most vulnerable road users such as children, pedestrians and cyclists.

The council also has an active Road Safety team that delivers education and training to vulnerable road users such as children, cyclists and motor cyclists throughout the district.