Image of David Davies, Executive Director of PACTS

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This week data was released on Reported road casualties in Great Britain, - providing provisional results for 2021. 

These provisional statistics show:
• an estimated 1,560 reported road deaths in 2021, a reduction of 12% from the 2017 to 2019 average
• an estimated 27,300 killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties in 2021, a reduction of 13% from the 2017 to 2019 average
• an estimated 127,967 casualties of all severities in 2021, a reduction of 21% from the 2017 to 2019 average
• there were increases in casualties of all severities in 2021 compared with 2020, though pedal cyclists showed a reduction in fatalities (20%)
• there are age and sex differences in casualty trends, with female fatalities aged 70 and over showing a particularly large reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic (36% reduction in 2021 compared with the 2017 to 2019 average)
• monthly changes in casualties generally showed a similar trend to changes in motor traffic levels

Also included was a factsheet on E-scooter casualties.

To listen to an interview discussing the findings CIHT speaks with David G Davies PhD FCIHT, Executive Director, Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS)

On the interview David was asked about the imminent Road Safety Framework from the Department for Transport on this he said:

I am not optimistic on targets [i.e. that we will see the Government bring in casualty reduction targets]. The UK pioneered national casualty reduction targets - it's a shorthand for saying we are committed to bringing down the number of deaths and serious injuries - Scottish Government has adopted targets, the Government's given targets to National Highways Network to implement, London has casualty reduction targets, many local authorities do too - it's almost filling in the gap and joining them up.

CIHT has called for the Government to develop a long-term strategy to significantly reduce the number of people killed and injured on our roads. This will require a clear vision for how that will be achieved and funding to deliver the strategy. CIHT will work with the government and others across that sector to deliver that strategy. CIHT believe in delivering this strategy, targets and indicators are vital to measuring and review casualty reduction, providing vision and focus, funding and greater autonomy for local authorities.

David Davies has a background in sustainable transport, road safety and public sector scrutiny. His PhD in transport planning led to his appointment as transport policy officer at Birmingham City Council. He then worked as a consultant in UK and Hong Kong before forming David Davies Associates, which specialised in sustainable transport, including five years at the Transport Research Lab.

In 2003 he moved to the Audit Commission, undertaking transport and environment inspections and performance assessments of local authorities.

In 2007 he moved to the House of Commons Transport Committee, managing inquiries into road safety, aviation, high-speed rail, ports and bus competition. He has been the Executive Director of PACTS since January 2013 where he promotes effective casualty and danger reduction measures and integration of safety with wider environmental and sustainability polices.