Road accident body should explore HGV collision record

Our ten-year analysis of DfT road safety statistics shows that the ratio of fatal road accidents on minor roads involving heavy good vehicles (Philippa Edmunds) compared with those involving all vehicle types has been climbing year-on-year, demonstrating why a DfT accident investigation unit is needed (‘Accident investigation unit for roads urged to drive down KSIs’ LTT 05 Jan). 

Despite only making up five per cent of overall traffic miles, HGVs were almost seven times more likely than cars to be involved in fatal collisions on minor roads in 2016; in comparison, they were three-and-a-half times more likely than cars to be involved in fatal crashes in 2009. 

Whilst cars are getting safer, HGVs continue to be dangerous in a collision because of their size and weight. The figures also reveal little or no improvement in the rates of fatal collisions involving HGVs on motorways and A roads. The accompanying graph explains the figures.

Furthermore, the Government should stop using the misleading term accident and instead call them collision, reintroduce the casualty reduction targets scrapped in 2010/11, and stop conflating fatality and seriously injured figures, which masks the fact that road-related fatalities are increasing.