REACTION: IAM RoadSmart's response to the latest road traffic casualty figures

Commenting on the 2023 road traffic casualty statistics published today by the Department for Transport, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said: “While it is welcome to see an overall reduction in fatalities on our roads over the last year, the fact remains that 1,624 people were still killed on the road network in 2023. These are preventable deaths and significant work is required to meaningfully tackle the number of road casualties across the country.

“Of particular concern is an increase in the proportion of fatalities where an occupant is not wearing a seatbelt which has risen from a fifth in 2022 to a quarter of those killed in a vehicle in 2023.

“Every death on our roads is a tragedy which causes untold grief for victims’ relatives. Progress on reducing road casualties has stagnated for over a decade so we urge the Government to accelerate its commitment to publish a new road safety strategy with a vision zero focus and measures to improve driving and riding standards.”