Cyclist deaths increase by ten percent in 2012

Published: 28 June 2013
By Chris Haycock

The number of cyclists who died in accidents on British roads rose from 107 in 2011 to 118 in 2012. However, the overall number of road deaths actually fell in the same period to the lowest seen since records began in 1926. Police reported 1,754 deaths in 2012, 8% less than the previous year. Figures showed that 420 pedestrians were killed on our roads in 2012, seven percent less than in 2011. Richard Westcott, the BBC's transport correspondent said that the rise in cyclists killed could be due to more people travelling by bike, particularly in the London area, and could lead to further calls for designers of British roads to spend more time and effort on improving their safety. The report, drawn up by the Department of Transport, said, "There is a well-established upward trend in pedal cyclist casualties; this is eighth year that the number of seriously injured cyclist casualties has increased." Further statistics from the report can be found at the Department of Transport website.