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| Road deaths fell sharply in spring | Road deaths fell sharply in spring |
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| The number of deaths on the roads this spring fell sharply, provisional government figures showed today. A total of 400 people were killed in reported road accidents in Britain in the period April to June – an 18% reduction on the figure of 487 in the same period last year. | The number of deaths on the roads this spring fell sharply, provisional government figures showed today. A total of 400 people were killed in reported road accidents in Britain in the period April to June – an 18% reduction on the figure of 487 in the same period last year. |
| The number of serious and slight injuries on the roads also decreased, with the Department for Transport saying the extreme wet weather might have led to the lower figures. | The number of serious and slight injuries on the roads also decreased, with the Department for Transport saying the extreme wet weather might have led to the lower figures. |
| The provisional figures showed that the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSIs) fell 6% to 5,970 in spring this year. Slight injuries were down 7% at 41,910, while total casualties (killed, seriously injured and slightly injured) fell 7% to 47,880. | The provisional figures showed that the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSIs) fell 6% to 5,970 in spring this year. Slight injuries were down 7% at 41,910, while total casualties (killed, seriously injured and slightly injured) fell 7% to 47,880. |
| Child KSIs this spring fell 14% to 610, while total child casualties in April to June this year were down 16% – the largest fall in more than 20 years. | Child KSIs this spring fell 14% to 610, while total child casualties in April to June this year were down 16% – the largest fall in more than 20 years. |
| The DfT said: "In general, single-quarter comparisons should be treated with caution as the data are more variable, and more subject to distortion by short-term factors such as unexpected weather. | The DfT said: "In general, single-quarter comparisons should be treated with caution as the data are more variable, and more subject to distortion by short-term factors such as unexpected weather. |
| "In this context, it should be noted that Q2 2012 (April to June) saw extremely wet weather across England (where rainfall levels were more than double the 1981/2010 average in both April and June)." | "In this context, it should be noted that Q2 2012 (April to June) saw extremely wet weather across England (where rainfall levels were more than double the 1981/2010 average in both April and June)." |
| The DfT went on: "This wet weather is likely to have reduced levels of pedal cycle and motorcycle traffic in particular. Provisional traffic statistics show a fall in overall traffic of 1.1% between 2011 Q2 and 2012 Q2, with a much larger fall in the other motor vehicles category (which incorporates motorcycles). | The DfT went on: "This wet weather is likely to have reduced levels of pedal cycle and motorcycle traffic in particular. Provisional traffic statistics show a fall in overall traffic of 1.1% between 2011 Q2 and 2012 Q2, with a much larger fall in the other motor vehicles category (which incorporates motorcycles). |
| "There is also evidence that the wet weather may have affected road-user behaviour through reducing traffic speeds. Compared to the same months in 2011, observed average speeds on the local A-road network were 4% lower in April 2012 and 1% lower in June 2012." | "There is also evidence that the wet weather may have affected road-user behaviour through reducing traffic speeds. Compared to the same months in 2011, observed average speeds on the local A-road network were 4% lower in April 2012 and 1% lower in June 2012." |
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