The number of people killed or seriously injured on London’s roads in 2023 fell by 6% to the second lowest level on record, according to the latest annual casualty statistics published by Transport for London (TfL).
Last year was the lowest year on record for fatalities, excluding 2021, which, according to TfL, was heavily affected by pandemic-related lockdowns and changes in travel patterns.
In total, the number of casualties fell from 3,974 in 2022 to 3,709, while the number of people killed or seriously injured on London’s roads also dropped by 24% against the 2010-2014 baseline.
However, 95 people were still killed on London’s roads in 2023, while people walking, cycling and motorcycling continue to be most at risk, making up 80% of all people killed or seriously injured in 2023.
READ MORE: More action needed to prevent death and injury on London’s roads, TfL reveals
As a result, TfL said that collective action is still needed to ensure London’s boroughs achieve the mayor’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries from London’s transport network by 2041.
Lilli Matson, TfL’s chief safety, health and environment officer, said: “The latest casualty stats show that it is more important than ever to double down on our Vision Zero goal.
“Protecting everyone on the road, particularly people walking, cycling and motorcycling, is a priority for us and our partners and we will continue to incorporate our Vision Zero strategy into every decision we make.
“Without safe streets we know that people won’t choose the most healthy and sustainable modes of transport.
“We are determined to make London a greener, more sustainable and safer city, and Vision Zero is an essential part of building a better London for everyone.”
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Encouragingly, the number of people killed in London while cycling has fallen by 40% against TfL’s 2010-14 baseline, from 13 to eight.
What’s more, data shows that cycling journeys have continued to increase with the number of daily cycle journeys increasing to 1.26 million in 2023, up by 6.3% since 2022, suggesting that cycling trips have become safer overall.
However, Tfl admitted that concerns around safety remain one of the biggest barriers to cycling and, to continue to reduce risk and increase the number of people who choose to cycle, there is a need to continue to introduce safe, segregated cycling infrastructure, lower speeds and road safety initiatives.
READ MORE: UK to introduce new laws to prosecute dangerous cyclists
Meanwhile, cars continued to be the main vehicle type involved in collisions in 2023 and were involved in 68% of all casualties on London’s roads.
According to TfL, Speeding remains one of the biggest risks to road users, with around half of the 2023 fatal collisions in London reporting speed as a contributory factor.
TfL said it would continue to work on lowering speeds across London, and last year lowered the speed limit on selected roads in 14 boroughs, exceeding its target to lower the speed limit on 140km of roads by March 2024.
READ MORE: TfL data shows 25% fall in collisions since 20mph speed limit introduced
Some 264km of TfL roads are reportedly now subject to a 20mph speed limit, with the London Metropolitan Police said to be on target to be able to take action on a million speeding offences by the end of 2024/25.
In 2023/24, more than 800,000 speeding offences were reportedly enforced.
TfL has also reported that last year 252 people were seriously injured in collisions involving a TfL bus, including passengers, and six were people killed, representing a 43% reduction in bus involved fatalities from the 2010-2014 baseline.
To further improve on this trend, TfL confirmed that all new buses joining its fleet currently comply with either the 2019 or 2021 Bus Safety Standard.
As part of this, TfL has fitted some 3,795 buses with intelligent speed assistance, which ensures buses comply with the speed limit.
READ MORE: TfL unveils Bus Safety Strategy to achieve Vision Zero goal
TfL has also fitted some 1,251 buses with an acoustic vehicle alerting system, which alerts other road users to the presence of quieter electric buses, and some 1,297 buses have been fitted with a camera monitoring system that replaces wing mirrors to reduce blind spots and improve the driver’s field of vision.
And, in another initiate to tackle road danger in the UK capital, from October 2024, TfL will enhance Direct Vision Standard requirements with all HGVs weighing more than 12 tonnes required to have a three-star rating or fit Progressive Safe System measures to operate in Greater London.
READ MORE: TfL issues 12-month warning ahead of strengthening DVS requirement for HGVs
TfL has also continued to work on its Safer Junctions programme to make changes at some of the capital’s most dangerous junctions.
To that end, TfL has so far completed work at 45 junctions across London as part of the programme, with works at Battersea Bridge and Lambeth Bridge due to start later this year.
As previously reported by CiTTi Magazine, last year, TfL launched its Vision Zero Inequalities Dashboard tool, creating a new map of London that shows the levels of road traffic injury inequality in the UK capital.
The tool is claimed to be the first of its kind in Europe and shows how deprivation is reportedly linked to higher road casualty levels.
London’s walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, said: “Every death or serious injury on our streets is devastating.
“We’re making significant progress but we know there is more work to do to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from London’s roads.
“The mayor is committed to making it safer and easier for people to walk and cycle around our city, which is why we are expanding our safer speed programme, tightening the Direct Vision Safety standard for HGVs and working with the boroughs to deliver high-quality cycle routes as we work to build a greener, safer London for everyone.”
Achievements and innovations in road safety will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector
