This volume presents detailed statistics about the circumstances of personal injury road accidents. Some 50 data items are collected by the police STATS19 system for each accident, including the time and location of the accident, the types of vehicles involved and what they were doing at the time of the accident, as well as some information on the drivers and casualties involved. In 2009 there was a reported total of 222,146 casualties of all severities (4 per cent lower than 2009). Of those, 2,222 people were killed in road accidents, 316 fewer (12 per cent lower) than in 2008. It has long been known that a considerable proportion of non-fatal injury accidents are not reported to the police and the current best estimate is that the total number of road casualties in Great Britain each year is around 700,000. In addition to the detailed tables there are seven articles containing further analysis on specific road safety topics: an overview and trends in the police data; valuation of road accidents and casualties; drinking and driving; contributory factors in road accidents; survey data on road traffic accidents, including an overall estimate of total casualties; hospital admissions data on road casualties; road safety research. The statistics in STATS19 were reviewed recently and some changes recommended. Also, a new electronic police accident reporting system, CRASH, for secure collection, validation, transmission and storage of road traffic collision reports, is to be introduced in 2011 and 2012.

This volume presents detailed statistics about the circumstances of personal injury road accidents. Some 50 data items are collected for each accident, including the time and location of the accident, the types of vehicles involved and what they were doing at the time of the accident, as well as some information on the drivers and casualties involved. On average seven people were killed each day in 2008, less than half the rate in 1951. The Department for Transport, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government are working on a new road safety strategy for 2010 onwards, which will establish the approach, targets and measures for further reducing road casualties. The known fact that a considerable proportion of non-fatal injury accidents are not reported to the police is reflected in the new title for this annual publication. There are also seven articles containing further analysis on specific road safety topics: a general overview and progress towards casualty reduction targets; a valuation of road accidents and casualties in Great Britain in 2008; drinking and driving; contributory factors to road accidents; comparing police data on road accidents with other sources; an illustrative analysis of linked police and hospital data; an overview of road safety research.

18% of all drivers killed in road accidents are over the drink-drive limit (In 2007, based on coroners' data.) but only approximately 3% of drivers in the UK are stopped and tested for alcohol compared to the European average of 16%.. This report calls for the police to be given an additional power to permit preliminary breath tests as part of any designated drink drive enforcement operation. Currently, the police may stop any vehicle but can only test the driver's breath if there is an element of suspicion. There is concern that a reduction in the blood alcohol concentration limit would send out mixed messages but that the aimed for effectively zero limit is too great a step at present. Instead, concentration should be on stricter enforcement of the current limit and public education. It is felt that the success of Great Britain's drink driving policy to date is largely attributable to the deterrent effect of the current 12-month mandatory disqualification penalty and the Committee supports retaining that penalty. The committee also calls for the improvement of the detection of drug driving and to strengthen public perception about the likelihood of drug drivers being caught by the police. The Government's commitment to install drug screening devices in every police station by 2012 is welcomed though this interim measure should not eclipse the Government's aim over the medium-term to develop and type-approve a drug screening device for use at the roadside, drawing on relevant experience of doing this in the other parts of the world

Every day thousands of people are killed and injured on our roads. Millions of people each year will spend long weeks in the hospital after severe crashes and many will never be able to live, work or play as they used to do. Current efforts to address road safety are minimal in comparison to this growing human suffering. This report presents a comprehensive overview of what is known about the magnitude, risk factors and impact of road traffic injuries, and about ways to prevent and lessen the impact of road crashes. Over 100 experts, from all continents and different sectors -- including transport, engineering, health, police, education and civil society -- have worked to produce the report. Charts and tables.

This first IRTAD annual report comprises a synthesis of the main trends in traffic deaths and crashes in 2008 and presents the IRTAD Group and its activities. It includes detailed reports from 28 countries, focusing on the latest data for the year ...

This paper presents the Government's response to the North Report on Drink and Drug Driving and the Transport Committee's report on Sir Peter North's recommendations. It outlines measure the Government intends to introduce. The prescribed alcohol limit for driving will not be changed, with the focus instead on improving enforcement and education to tackle the drink and drug drivers who put lives at risk. Other measures on drink driving include: revocation of the right for people whose evidential breath test result is less than 40% over the limit to opt for a blood test (the 'statutory option') - the breath testing equipment used in police stations is now very accurate and technically sophisticated so a blood sample is not needed to confirm the breath test; a more robust drink drive rehabilitation scheme; closing a loophole used by high risk offenders to delay their medical examinations; streamlining the procedure for testing drink drivers in hospital. On drug driving the Government will: approve preliminary drug-testing equipment - initially for use in police stations, and at the roadside as soon as possible; allow custody nurses to advise the police whether or not a suspected driver has a condition that may be due to a drug, removing the need to call out police doctors and so speed up the testing process; examine the case for a new specific drug driving offence - alongside the existing one - which would remove the need for the police to prove impairment on a case-by-case basis where a specified drug has been detected.

This second Annual report of the IRTAD Group comprises a synthesis of the main trends in the year 2009, in terms of the development in the number of traffic deaths and crashes and preliminary trends for the year 2010.