There are rising concerns over trends in motor-vehicle-related fatalities in various regions of the UK. The South East region has consistently had the highest number of road fatalities since 2013, maintaining a considerable lead over other regions. The data also indicates that road deaths in the South East were 22% higher than in the next most deadly region, Eastern England.

Eastern England is the only other region that recorded over 200 fatalities last year, with a 25% increase from the previous year. The East Midlands comes in third for the most common regions for fatalities, with an increase in recorded deaths compared to the previous year. Scotland also experienced a significant increase in road deaths, with a 21.7% rise from the previous year.

Increase across regions

Interestingly, out of the 11 regions analyzed, 9 experienced an increase in road fatalities from the previous year. London saw the largest increase in road fatalities among all the regions, with a 40% rise from the previous year. Eastern England had the next highest increase in fatalities, with 205 in 2022 compared to 165 in 2021.

There were two areas that recorded a decrease in fatalities: the Northwest with a decrease of 9.1% and the Southwest with a decrease of 4.8%. The region with the lowest recorded deaths was the Northeast, indicating it’s the safest area for drivers. On the other hand, Wales had the next lowest recordings of deaths but saw an 8.1% increase from the previous year.

Need for increased safety

Gary Digva, the founder of Road Angel, emphasized the need for increased road safety measures. He pointed out that it’s crucial for motorists to remain alert, follow road rules, and drive with care to reduce the chances of accidents, injuries, and fatalities. He suggested that the government and councils should consider strategies such as lowering speeds on roads, increasing speed cameras in high-risk areas, and educating users about safe driving.

Overall, the data highlights the importance of addressing road safety concerns and implementing effective measures to reduce road fatalities in the UK.