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Fears over road casualty figures Road casualty figures falling
(about 2 hours later)
Government figures for road casualties, which have shown a slight fall, may be flawed, experts have warned. Road casualties in Britain showed a slight fall last year, figures show.
Road deaths fell to 3,201 in 2005, a drop of 1%, while serious injuries were 7% lower at 29,000. Deaths fell to 3,201 in 2005, a drop of 1%, while serious injuries were 7% lower at 29,000.
But the Statistics Commission is concerned police figures, on which government statistics are based, tend to be lower than hospital figures. The Department for Transport released contributory factors for the first time, showing drivers' failure to look properly featured in 32% of accidents.
The Department for Transport said it was aware of "under-reporting" and that further research will be done. But in fatal crashes, loss of control was most common, with 35%, and excessive speed was reported in 15% of all accidents and 26% of fatal crashes.
It said it has already produced two reports on the subject. Although the figures for deaths and serious injuries showed a slight fall, the Statistics Commission is concerned police figures, on which government statistics are based, tend to be lower than hospital figures.
For the first time, the DfT revealed details of contributory factors to accidents. Speeding, or driving within the limits but too fast for the conditions, were a factor in 15% of all accidents, and in 26% of fatal accidents. If these hospital figures were used, targets would not be met, the commission said. The commission has written to the DfT to express its concern.
But failure to look properly was the most common contributory factor, featuring in 32% of all accidents. Of the six most stated factors, five were some form of mistake by the motorist. Safe Speed has been pointing out for years that the concentration on speeding was a deadly mistake - speed cameras must be scrapped, heads must roll Paul SmithFounder
For fatal accidents, the most common factor was lossof control, featuring in 35% of all reports. The DfT said it was aware of "under-reporting" and that further research will be done. It said it has already produced two reports on the subject.
There is an apparent divergence of trends between police and hospital statistics that may indicate that accident rates are not falling by as much as the police statistics suggest The Statistics Commission A spokesman added: "We have always used police figures and they do provide a straight year-on-year comparison."
All of the road casualty figures were defended by officials. A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman added: "We have always used police figures and they do provide a straight year-on-year comparison." There was also a fall in the number of drink-drive deaths, with 560 in 2005, a drop of 3%, while total casualties in drink-drive accidents fell by 9%. The figures were based on provisional estimates.
Karen Dunnell, at the Office for National Statistics, has written to the DfT expressing concern. The government has a target to reduce death and serious injury figures by 40% by the year 2010, compared with the average figures between 1994-1998. While there has been a major drop in serious injuries, deaths have remained relatively static.
The Statistics Commission, in a briefing note, said: "There is an apparent divergence of trends between police and hospital statistics that may indicate that accident rates are not falling by as much as the police statistics suggest." Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA Motoring Trust, said improved car-occupant protection and road design were a major factor in the fall in deaths and serious injuries.
The government has set a target of reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on the nation's roads by 40% by 2010 compared with the average figures over the period 1994/98. 'Dodgy data'
The reduction target for children is 50%. The use of contributory factors from police officers' accident reports for the first time have been hailed by campaigners against current policies on speeding.
The DfT is well on the way to achieving the 40% target, according to the Statistics Commission. Safe Speed said the suggestion that speeding or excessive speed for the conditions was a factor in only 15% of accidents showed the "entire road safety policy has been based on dodgy data".
However, it added that on the basis of hospital statistics, "the DfT would not be on track to achieve the target". Founder Paul Smith added: "Safe Speed has been pointing out for years that the concentration on speeding was a deadly mistake. Speed cameras must be scrapped. Heads must roll."
But Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, disagreed, saying the report showed a need to re-emphasise the overall campaign against speed.
The contributory factors suggested eight times more male than female drivers in road accidents were speeding. Older drivers were less likely to speed.
While "impairment or distraction" was reported in 12% of all accidents, and 19% of fatal accidents, a factor like use of a mobile phone did not even feature in 1% of accidents.
Of the six most stated factors, five were some form of mistake by the motorist.
The DfT emphasised that contributory factors were based on the reporting officers initial assessment and were not subjected to a strong standard of proof.