Facts About Road Accidents And Personal Injuries

Road accidents usually happen without warning. They're sudden and can take novice and
experienced drivers by surprise. When they occur, we hope for the best and fear the worst.
People often sustain serious injuries as a result of road accidents. Even worse, thousands
of people lose their lives each year.

Since that fateful day on 17 August, 1896 when
Bridget Driscoll became the first person to die as a result of a road accident in Britain,
the roads have become increasingly busier and more dangerous. Below, we'll explore the
numbers behind the stories. We'll take a look at how many fatalities and injuries are
happening on Britain's roads.

Injuries, Fatalities And Other Statistics

3,172 people were killed as a result of road accidents throughout Britain in 2006. The
number of people (including drivers and pedestrians) who sustained serious injuries on the road
in 2006 were 28,390. Overall, the number of road casualties in Britain during 2006 were
258,404.

Children were not exempt from injury or death. In 2006, 169 children lost their lives as a
result of collisions. The total number of children who either died or were severely injured
was 3,294. Pedestrian fatalities during the same year numbered 675 while the total number
of fatalities and injuries numbered 30,982 in 2006.

Cyclists were also among the casualties. The number of those who died or were injured on
motorcycles during 2006 was 23,326. The corresponding number for pedal cyclists was 16,196.

Optimism In Baseline Trends

While the numbers above can paint a discouraging picture, it's important to note that most
of the numbers reflect a decrease in both injuries and fatalities on Britain's roads. This
could be due to a number of reasons. First, cars are designed with more safety features
today. This undoubtedly prevents many drivers from dying or become seriously injured.
Second, the Department For Transport established a set of directives years ago to slash
the number of people being hurt on the road. Meeting their mandate required safer driving
conditions, better roads and other improvements.

Another possible reason for the decline in the number of fatalities and injuries sustained
during road accidents is better driver awareness. The public is increasingly mindful of
the damage their actions can cause while behind the wheel. In the end, responsibility
for reducing collisions and accidents falls mostly upon the shoulders of drivers.
Hopefully, we'll continue to see ever-decreasing numbers in coming years.

This article was written on behalf of Claims For You who offer Accident compensation claims and Road traffic accident claims.