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| Why are road deaths in the UK on the rise again? | Why are road deaths in the UK on the rise again? |
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| Hamid Bouadimi leaves the sitting room of his south London flat and returns holding a green plastic bag. Labelled "patient property" and tied with a knot, it contains the clothes that his five-year-old son, Hichame, was wearing when he was killed by a lorry on St George's Road, Southwark, on the way home from school last Wednesday. | Hamid Bouadimi leaves the sitting room of his south London flat and returns holding a green plastic bag. Labelled "patient property" and tied with a knot, it contains the clothes that his five-year-old son, Hichame, was wearing when he was killed by a lorry on St George's Road, Southwark, on the way home from school last Wednesday. |
| He sits down and takes out the items one by one to show to me. First a red sweatshirt bearing the community primary school's logo, then neatly folded trousers, a sticker bearing a smiley face Hichame earned through good behaviour that day, which police or paramedics have placed in a plastic bag. His little vest, socks and pants are there too. And the black school shoes that both parents took him to buy just a week ago. | He sits down and takes out the items one by one to show to me. First a red sweatshirt bearing the community primary school's logo, then neatly folded trousers, a sticker bearing a smiley face Hichame earned through good behaviour that day, which police or paramedics have placed in a plastic bag. His little vest, socks and pants are there too. And the black school shoes that both parents took him to buy just a week ago. |
| Hichame's mother has barely slept since she watched her youngest child die in the street. Mr Bouadimi, who has health problems, says he is doing his best to keep the family going. Their youngest daughter, Lamia, is back at Charlotte Sharman school on the other side of St George's Road, the three-lane red route west from Elephant and Castle, where flowers and candles have been left with messages of condolence. The couple's two teenage sons have not been back to school since the funeral. | Hichame's mother has barely slept since she watched her youngest child die in the street. Mr Bouadimi, who has health problems, says he is doing his best to keep the family going. Their youngest daughter, Lamia, is back at Charlotte Sharman school on the other side of St George's Road, the three-lane red route west from Elephant and Castle, where flowers and candles have been left with messages of condolence. The couple's two teenage sons have not been back to school since the funeral. |
| Transport for London removed pedestrian guard rails from the junction where Hichame was killed in March. The cause of the crash is not yet clear and the driver involved was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, but the family is looking for answers. | Transport for London removed pedestrian guard rails from the junction where Hichame was killed in March. The cause of the crash is not yet clear and the driver involved was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, but the family is looking for answers. |
| "I was always scared of that road," says Mr Bouadimi. "Most of the drivers drive fast, and if the police put a camera there they would see it. The school is very close to the main road, and I don't know who was the clever man who made the decision to take away the barriers. It's really upsetting to be honest with you. My son is gone but I'm really worried. There has to be a camera and a flashing sign showing kids coming out from school, at least at 9 o'clock and 3.30. It's not complicated to do, it's just a sign. I don't want anybody else to experience what I've experienced." | "I was always scared of that road," says Mr Bouadimi. "Most of the drivers drive fast, and if the police put a camera there they would see it. The school is very close to the main road, and I don't know who was the clever man who made the decision to take away the barriers. It's really upsetting to be honest with you. My son is gone but I'm really worried. There has to be a camera and a flashing sign showing kids coming out from school, at least at 9 o'clock and 3.30. It's not complicated to do, it's just a sign. I don't want anybody else to experience what I've experienced." |
| Tragedies like this are thankfully far rarer than they were in the 1980s, when more than 5,000 people were killed on Britain's roads every year (around 100 a week). In 1999 Britain had the safest roads in Europe apart from Sweden. But there are signs that such disasters – with human consequences that will reach down the years, for how does a six-year-old girl in an already vulnerable household cope with seeing her little brother's life obliterated? – are on the rise. | Tragedies like this are thankfully far rarer than they were in the 1980s, when more than 5,000 people were killed on Britain's roads every year (around 100 a week). In 1999 Britain had the safest roads in Europe apart from Sweden. But there are signs that such disasters – with human consequences that will reach down the years, for how does a six-year-old girl in an already vulnerable household cope with seeing her little brother's life obliterated? – are on the rise. |
| The number of people killed on Britain's roads increased by 3% in 2011, to 1,901 – the first increase since 2003. The number of pedestrians killed jumped by 12% to 453, with the biggest increases among children and the over-60s – "vulnerable road users", in the jargon. | The number of people killed on Britain's roads increased by 3% in 2011, to 1,901 – the first increase since 2003. The number of pedestrians killed jumped by 12% to 453, with the biggest increases among children and the over-60s – "vulnerable road users", in the jargon. |
| Whether this is a statistical glitch, or the start of a deadly new trend, is a matter for debate. The first quarter of 2012 also showed an 8% increase (compared with the same period last year) in the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured, but not all the numbers move in the same direction. While the number of casualties on motorways and in non-built-up areas fell last year, serious injuries in built-up areas went up. Road accident data are complicated. | Whether this is a statistical glitch, or the start of a deadly new trend, is a matter for debate. The first quarter of 2012 also showed an 8% increase (compared with the same period last year) in the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured, but not all the numbers move in the same direction. While the number of casualties on motorways and in non-built-up areas fell last year, serious injuries in built-up areas went up. Road accident data are complicated. |
| What is not in question is that road safety has moved up the political agenda. In February the Times launched its Cyclesafe "Cities fit for cycling" campaign, after its reporter Mary Bowers was critically injured in a collision with a lorry. Cycling was a big issue in London's mayoral election. "Boris bikes" were among the Conservative mayor's flagship first-term achievements: his rivals queued up to challenge him with statistics that showed pedestrian and cyclist deaths had gone up since he took office. | What is not in question is that road safety has moved up the political agenda. In February the Times launched its Cyclesafe "Cities fit for cycling" campaign, after its reporter Mary Bowers was critically injured in a collision with a lorry. Cycling was a big issue in London's mayoral election. "Boris bikes" were among the Conservative mayor's flagship first-term achievements: his rivals queued up to challenge him with statistics that showed pedestrian and cyclist deaths had gone up since he took office. |
| "It's interesting that when a cyclist is killed in London now, it's in the Evening Standard and attracts quite a bit of coverage, when in the past that wasn't the case," says transport writer Christian Wolmar, who aims to be Labour's mayoral candidate in 2016. "There has traditionally been a lot of cycling in places like Cambridge, York and Chelmsford. But London, almost by accident, has become a cycling city. It's come from the bottom up, and transport planners and politicians are playing catch-up. They have still not recognised that if you have a lot of cyclists it requires the transfer of road space." | "It's interesting that when a cyclist is killed in London now, it's in the Evening Standard and attracts quite a bit of coverage, when in the past that wasn't the case," says transport writer Christian Wolmar, who aims to be Labour's mayoral candidate in 2016. "There has traditionally been a lot of cycling in places like Cambridge, York and Chelmsford. But London, almost by accident, has become a cycling city. It's come from the bottom up, and transport planners and politicians are playing catch-up. They have still not recognised that if you have a lot of cyclists it requires the transfer of road space." |
| Last week the Association of British Insurers called for new restrictions on young drivers, noting that one in three of those killed on the roads is under 25. It proposed a ban on night-time driving, a minimum learning period of a year and a lower drink-drive limit. Road-safety campaigners and charities such as Brake and Living Streets are united behind efforts to improve provision for cyclists and reduce dangerous driving. But they worry that pedestrians, a less organised group than cyclists and lacking Olympic celebrities such as Victoria Pendleton to take their side, struggle to command the same attention, even in a fortnight that saw a 12-year-old boy killed by a hit-and-run driver in Bradford and a 15-year-old left in a coma in west London, as well as the death of Hichame Bouadimi. | Last week the Association of British Insurers called for new restrictions on young drivers, noting that one in three of those killed on the roads is under 25. It proposed a ban on night-time driving, a minimum learning period of a year and a lower drink-drive limit. Road-safety campaigners and charities such as Brake and Living Streets are united behind efforts to improve provision for cyclists and reduce dangerous driving. But they worry that pedestrians, a less organised group than cyclists and lacking Olympic celebrities such as Victoria Pendleton to take their side, struggle to command the same attention, even in a fortnight that saw a 12-year-old boy killed by a hit-and-run driver in Bradford and a 15-year-old left in a coma in west London, as well as the death of Hichame Bouadimi. |
| Deaths of older pedestrians, 184 of whom were killed on Britain's roads last year, usually command even less attention. Josie Keogh's mother, Mary Daly, was killed by a speeding driver near her home in Slough in January 2010. "She was walking on the pavement by a semi-main road and a man in a BMW mounted the pavement. He lost control, the car completely turned around and ended up facing the other way. He was charged with careless driving," she says. Mrs Keogh appealed against the charge and the sentence of community service and a one-year ban from driving without success. | Deaths of older pedestrians, 184 of whom were killed on Britain's roads last year, usually command even less attention. Josie Keogh's mother, Mary Daly, was killed by a speeding driver near her home in Slough in January 2010. "She was walking on the pavement by a semi-main road and a man in a BMW mounted the pavement. He lost control, the car completely turned around and ended up facing the other way. He was charged with careless driving," she says. Mrs Keogh appealed against the charge and the sentence of community service and a one-year ban from driving without success. |
| "My mum was 80, but very fit. She walked everywhere. But I found that, because of her age, her death was trivialised. It was devastating. I was speaking to my mum 30 minutes before she was killed. She had five children and 11 grandchildren, and even now it's still devastating for us that that happened to her. That she was walking down the road and a car mounted the pavement and killed her. It's hard to explain how you feel – the shock and the loss – because it was completely unnecessary." | "My mum was 80, but very fit. She walked everywhere. But I found that, because of her age, her death was trivialised. It was devastating. I was speaking to my mum 30 minutes before she was killed. She had five children and 11 grandchildren, and even now it's still devastating for us that that happened to her. That she was walking down the road and a car mounted the pavement and killed her. It's hard to explain how you feel – the shock and the loss – because it was completely unnecessary." |
| Former transport secretary Justine Greening blamed variations in the weather for 2011's figures, with increased use of mobile devices highlighted as another cause of worsening safety. A handful of high-profile cases have seen drivers jailed for killing people while using mobile phones. | Former transport secretary Justine Greening blamed variations in the weather for 2011's figures, with increased use of mobile devices highlighted as another cause of worsening safety. A handful of high-profile cases have seen drivers jailed for killing people while using mobile phones. |
| But some experts believe the government bears responsibility for the worsening situation. On his first day in the job as transport secretary in May 2010, Philip Hammond made a speech in which he said, "We will end the war on motorists. Motoring has got to get greener, but the car is not going to go away." | But some experts believe the government bears responsibility for the worsening situation. On his first day in the job as transport secretary in May 2010, Philip Hammond made a speech in which he said, "We will end the war on motorists. Motoring has got to get greener, but the car is not going to go away." |
| Funding for speed cameras – famously loathed by David Cameron's Cotswolds neighbour and Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson – was withdrawn. A clampdown on "cowboy clampers" was announced. National casualty-reduction targets were dropped. An 80mph speed limit on motorways was proposed. A department for transport spokesman says: "An impact assessment is being carried out and a consultation will take place later this year." | Funding for speed cameras – famously loathed by David Cameron's Cotswolds neighbour and Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson – was withdrawn. A clampdown on "cowboy clampers" was announced. National casualty-reduction targets were dropped. An 80mph speed limit on motorways was proposed. A department for transport spokesman says: "An impact assessment is being carried out and a consultation will take place later this year." |
| Oliver Carsten, professor of transport safety at the University of Leeds, and the RAC Foundation's Professor Stephen Glaister believe this change in tone sent a dangerous signal. "Either the central message is about being careful and watchful, or it is that speed is not so salient, so maybe it's OK to go a little bit faster," Carsten says. "And very small increases in speed can have a very dramatic impact when there are crashes." | Oliver Carsten, professor of transport safety at the University of Leeds, and the RAC Foundation's Professor Stephen Glaister believe this change in tone sent a dangerous signal. "Either the central message is about being careful and watchful, or it is that speed is not so salient, so maybe it's OK to go a little bit faster," Carsten says. "And very small increases in speed can have a very dramatic impact when there are crashes." |
| Glaister says he was "appalled when the government encouraged the idea that speed cameras were not useful. Over the years there has been improving compliance with speed limits. Violations have reduced, and this is associated with a reduction in casualties. But most recent data shows both casualties and speeds have gone up. Any road-safety person would say there is a direct correlation." Oxfordshire, one of the first local authorities to turn its speed cameras off after the coalition was elected, last year turned them back on. | Glaister says he was "appalled when the government encouraged the idea that speed cameras were not useful. Over the years there has been improving compliance with speed limits. Violations have reduced, and this is associated with a reduction in casualties. But most recent data shows both casualties and speeds have gone up. Any road-safety person would say there is a direct correlation." Oxfordshire, one of the first local authorities to turn its speed cameras off after the coalition was elected, last year turned them back on. |
| Campaigners continue to push for stronger enforcement. The government has promised to get tougher on drink and drug drivers and make careless driving a fixed-penalty offence, but says there will be no return to national targets. | Campaigners continue to push for stronger enforcement. The government has promised to get tougher on drink and drug drivers and make careless driving a fixed-penalty offence, but says there will be no return to national targets. |
| Amy Aeron-Thomas, executive director of victims' charity Roadpeace, believes the evidence shows the justice system is moving in the wrong direction, away from taking road deaths seriously. A recent consultation by the director of public prosecutions suggested police responding to 999 calls and drivers who had killed their "nearest and dearest" through dangerous driving might not in future be prosecuted. | Amy Aeron-Thomas, executive director of victims' charity Roadpeace, believes the evidence shows the justice system is moving in the wrong direction, away from taking road deaths seriously. A recent consultation by the director of public prosecutions suggested police responding to 999 calls and drivers who had killed their "nearest and dearest" through dangerous driving might not in future be prosecuted. |
| "With fatal crashes, causing death by careless driving is now the most common charge laid. They're just going for easier options where drivers can plead guilty and get banned for a year. Death by dangerous driving charges have more than halved in the past three years, since the less serious charge of careless driving was introduced. The police, the courts, prosecutors, are all under pressure to go for the cheaper, faster option." | "With fatal crashes, causing death by careless driving is now the most common charge laid. They're just going for easier options where drivers can plead guilty and get banned for a year. Death by dangerous driving charges have more than halved in the past three years, since the less serious charge of careless driving was introduced. The police, the courts, prosecutors, are all under pressure to go for the cheaper, faster option." |
| Across Britain, the approach to the street environment is changing. Towns and cities including Liverpool, Sheffield and Leicester have adopted a speed limit of 20mph in residential areas. The idea gaining ground is that segregation of road users may not be the solution – that drivers are more careful when made to be aware of their surroundings. There have been experiments with "shared space", and street "clutter" has become unfashionable. Transport for London has removed more than 80km of guard railings, with Edinburgh set to follow suit. | Across Britain, the approach to the street environment is changing. Towns and cities including Liverpool, Sheffield and Leicester have adopted a speed limit of 20mph in residential areas. The idea gaining ground is that segregation of road users may not be the solution – that drivers are more careful when made to be aware of their surroundings. There have been experiments with "shared space", and street "clutter" has become unfashionable. Transport for London has removed more than 80km of guard railings, with Edinburgh set to follow suit. |
| But road safety is not always an exact science. As street designer John Dales explains, a road with no cycling casualties might appear safe from the statistics, when in fact cyclists are too scared to use it. "The one thing we know empirically is that the slower the cars, the lower the accident statistics." | But road safety is not always an exact science. As street designer John Dales explains, a road with no cycling casualties might appear safe from the statistics, when in fact cyclists are too scared to use it. "The one thing we know empirically is that the slower the cars, the lower the accident statistics." |
| Dalila Bouadimi stayed with friends for two days after her son's death, unwilling to come home, and now wants the family to move. The bedroom Hichame shared with his sister is empty. Lamia is sleeping on a mattress in a room with her older brothers. | Dalila Bouadimi stayed with friends for two days after her son's death, unwilling to come home, and now wants the family to move. The bedroom Hichame shared with his sister is empty. Lamia is sleeping on a mattress in a room with her older brothers. |
| "She's lonely, she thinks something is missing and she keeps talking about him all the time," says Mr Bouadimi. "They were close ages, very good friends. At school on Monday she came out at break and started looking for him in the playground because she forgot he passed away, she was calling out his name, and the teacher said: 'No, no … it's OK, OK.'" | "She's lonely, she thinks something is missing and she keeps talking about him all the time," says Mr Bouadimi. "They were close ages, very good friends. At school on Monday she came out at break and started looking for him in the playground because she forgot he passed away, she was calling out his name, and the teacher said: 'No, no … it's OK, OK.'" |
| When I leave his home, Mr Bouadimi says I must make sure to write in my article how kind the teachers, police and ambulance staff have all been to his family. | When I leave his home, Mr Bouadimi says I must make sure to write in my article how kind the teachers, police and ambulance staff have all been to his family. |
| Road deaths on the rise: the numbers | Road deaths on the rise: the numbers |
| • 12% – increase in drink driving between 2010 and 2011 | • 12% – increase in drink driving between 2010 and 2011 |
| • 8.3m – number of people in living in places with 20mph speed limit | • 8.3m – number of people in living in places with 20mph speed limit |
| • 12% – rise in pedestrian deaths between 2010 and 2011 | • 12% – rise in pedestrian deaths between 2010 and 2011 |
| • 1901 – number of people killed on British roads last year | • 1901 – number of people killed on British roads last year |
| • 184 – pedestrians aged 60+ killed last year | • 184 – pedestrians aged 60+ killed last year |
| • 201 – prosecutions for dangerous driving in 2010 | • 201 – prosecutions for dangerous driving in 2010 |
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