*Source: https://www.pacts.org.uk/updated-results-for-gb-road-deaths-in-2020/

We all want safer roads.  Every road collision is one too many.  If 1,500 people died and 30,000 people were seriously injured every year in the UK from air crashes, or trains, they’d be immediately suspended while an investigation took place, yet we’ve got use to these statistics on our roads.

But what if UK roads were as safe as the Netherlands, or Denmark, would you cycle then?

This fear, not facts, is what puts many people off cycling or encouraging their children to cycle.

There’s many different ways to measure road safety, but whatever measurement you prefer to choose, UK roads are safer than the Netherlands or Denmark!  UK roads used to be the safest in Europe, and have only recently been overtaken by Norway and Sweden who’ve made more progress than the UK at reducing road harms.

The current movement to introduce a default 20mph limit for urban roads could be the step that allows the UK to regain this title of “safest roads in Europe”.  

Our roads are safer than they’ve ever been, and are among the safest roads in the world, but we can still improve.