5.7.1 The Department for Transport information on road traffic accidents shows that in 2008 there were 18,117 casualties of traffic accidents in the South West, down by over 3,500 from 21,866 in 2007. This figure was considerably below the 1998 figure of 24,964 (DfT, Regional Transport Statistics, Road Accidents and Casualties Dataset).
5.7.2 As can be seen in Figure 5.7.1 below, the number of fatal and serious road casualties in the South West continues to fall. Between 1998 and 2009, killed and seriously injured casualties have fallen by 34%. This follows the
England trend, where a drop of just under 40% has been observed over the same time period.
Figure 5.7.1 Reported Killed or Seriously Injured Casualties, South West, 1997 - 2009
Reported Killed or Seriously Injured Casualities, South West (1997-2009) (Fig 5.7.1). Source: DfT Regional Transport Statistics.
5.7.3 As observed in 5.7.2 above, the level of casualties is falling at a slightly slower rate in the South West, compared with the national trend. This is also true for the numbers of child deaths and serious injuries. In 2009, for the South West this was almost 50% below the figure in 1998. In England, the reduction was 56%.
