4.2 Casualties by mode of transport (see Table 27)

A total of 13,828 car users were injured in road accidents in 1998, representing 62% of all casualties. Of these car users, 223 died. There were 4,077 pedestrian casualties (18% of the total), of whom 96 died, and 1,140 pedal cycle casualties (5% of the total), of whom 13 died. Because of the numbers of car user, pedestrian and pedal cyclist casualties, the figures for each of these three groups of road users are the subject of separate sections (4.3, 4.4 and 4.5). There is also a section on child casualties (4.6), which gives details of their modes of transport.

Together, all the modes of transport other than the three mentioned above accounted for 15% of casualties in 1998, and for broadly similar percentages of the numbers of fatalities and serious injuries. Although in total there were fewer motor cycle casualties (976) than pedal cycle casualties, more motor cyclists than pedal cyclists suffered fatal or serious injuries (371, of whom 33 died), presumably due to higher average speeds. A total of 952 bus and coach users were injured, of whom 76 suffered fatal or serious injuries (1 died) - these low proportions presumably being due to the greater protection of their passengers by buses and coaches.

The number of motor cycle casualties in 1998 represented 28% of the 1981-85 average: this 72% reduction in casualty numbers was considerably greater than that for other modes of transport.

A total of 13,828 car users were injured in road accidents, representing 62% of all casualties. Of these people, a total of 2,386 were either fatally or seriously injured, 223 of whom died. Non built-up roads accounted for a little over half of all car user casualties (53%: 7,389 out of 13,828). Presumably because average speeds are higher on non-built up roads, they accounted for much higher percentages of the total numbers of car users who were fatally injured (84%: 187 out of 223) or were fatally or seriously injured (72%: 1,724 out of 2,386). (See Table 27)

The number of car user fatalities in 1998 was 2% above the 1997 figure, and there was also a rise in the number who were fatally or seriously injured (up 1%). However, there was a slight fall in the total number of casualties (of all severities) (down 1%). Although the numbers of fatalities and of those who were fatally or seriously injured were well below the 1981-85 average level (down by 20% and 35% respectively), the total number of casualties (of all severities) was actually 12% above the 1981-85 average, making car users one of the few groups for whom the total number of casualties is significantly higher than the average 1981-85 level. (See Table 27)

The fatal and serious casualty rate for 16-22 year old car users in 1998 was 1.42 per thousand population. This was much higher than the rate for car users aged 23-59, which was 0.49 per thousand. Looking at annual averages over the years 1994-98, for 16-22 year old car users the fatality rate (0.11 per thousand population) and the combined fatal and serious rate (1.43 per thousand population) were both much higher than the corresponding rates for every other age group (see Tables 28 and 36)

On average over the years 1994-98, three-quarters of car user fatalities occurred on roads with a speed limit of 60mph. Such roads accounted for about three-fifths of those car users who were fatally or seriously injured, but for less than half of the total number of car user casualties (of all severities). (See Table 37)

On weekdays, the peak time for adult car user casualties was from 4p.m. to 6p.m. The 5p.m. to 6p.m. average of 756 (the annual average for the years 1994-98) was 14% higher than the average of 662 in the morning 8a.m. to 9a.m. peak. (See Table 32)

Adult car user casualties varied by month, with fewer in the first half of the year and more towards the end of the year. The peak month was October which had 32% more adult car user casualties than the lowest month, April (annual averages over the years 1994-98; months standardised to 30 days). (See Table 33)

Friday and Saturday had the peak numbers of adult car user casualties over the years 1994-98, with 16% and 9% (respectively) more than the average daily number of adult car user casualties. (See Table 34)

There were 4,077 pedestrian casualties in 1998: 18% of all casualties. Of these, 1,154 were fatally or seriously injured (96 died). Presumably because of the greater vulnerability of pedestrians, higher proportions (around a quarter) of the total number of people who were fatally or seriously injured were pedestrians. In addition, 28% of pedestrian casualties were fatally or seriously injured (1,154 out of 4,077) compared with 20% of all casualties (4,451 out of 22,457). About 95% of pedestrian casualties occurred on built-up roads (3,883 out of 4,077). Perhaps because of higher average speeds on non built-up roads, 45% of the pedestrian casualties on such roads were serious injuries or fatalities (88 out of 194) compared with 27% on built-up roads (1,066 out of 3,883). (See Table 27)

The number of pedestrian casualties in 1998 was 2% less than in 1997, and 38% below the 1981-85 average. The numbers of pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries in 1998 were both less than half the 1981-85 average levels. (See Table 27)

The pedestrian fatality rate was higher for those aged 70 + (0.07 per thousand population) than for any other age-group. However, the 12-15 age-group had the highest ‘fatal and serious’ and ‘all severities’ casualty rates (0.70 and 2.40 per thousand population, respectively). The corresponding casualty rates for the 5-11 age-group were only slightly lower. (See Table 36)

The overall pedestrian ‘all severities’ casualty rate for males was 1.07 per thousand population, compared with 0.65 per thousand for females. (See Table 38)

On weekdays, the peak time for adult pedestrian casualties was from 4p.m. to 6p.m.; at weekends it was from midnight to 2a.m. (See Table 32)

December was the peak month for adult pedestrian casualties, with 44% more than the monthly average. Adult pedestrian casualties in the four "winter" months, November to February, were 24% more than the monthly average (annual averages over the years 1994-98; months standardised to 30 days). (See Table 33)

Friday has the highest number of adult pedestrian casualties; 25% more than the daily average. (See Table 34)

In 1998, 11% of adult pedestrian casualties were recorded as crossing the road within 50metres of a pedestrian crossing, 1% were within the "zig-zag" around the crossing, and 11% were recorded as being on a pedestrian crossing. (See Table 39)

There were 1,140 pedal cycle casualties in 1998, 10% fewer than the previous year and 29% less than the 1981-85 average. The combined total of fatal and serious pedal cycle casualties in 1998 was 210, the same as in 1997 and 54% less than the 1981-85 average. There were 13 pedal cycle fatalities in 1998, four more than in 1997, but still five less than the 1981-85 average.(See Table 27)

Almost 90% of pedal cycle casualties were on built-up roads. (See Table 27)

The pedal cycle casualty rate per head of population was highest for those aged 12-15 (0.8 per thousand population). The other age groups with above-average casualty rates were: 5-11, 16-22 and 23-29. Of course, it must be remembered that, as noted earlier, "per capita" casualty rates do not provide a measure of the relative risk, because they do not take account of the levels of usage of (in this case) pedal cycles. (See Table 36)

On weekdays, the peak numbers of adult pedal cycle casualties were from 4p.m. to 6p.m. and from 8a.m. to 9a.m. At weekends the numbers were smaller, and there was no clear peak. (See Table 32)

The peak month of the year for adult pedal cycle casualties was August, with 47% more than the monthly average (1994-98 annual averages, standardised to 30 days). (See Table 33)

The day of week with the peak number of adult pedal cycle casualties was Thursday, 26% higher than the daily average, over the years 1994-98. There were substantially fewer adult pedal cycle casualties on Saturday and Sunday, with 31% and 44% less than the daily average. (See Table 34)

There were 3,535 child casualties in 1998, representing a sixth of the total number of casualties of all ages (16%: 3,535 out of 22,457). Of the child casualties, 698 were fatalities or serious injuries, of whom 32 died. Although, the number of child fatalities was six higher in 1998 than in 1997, all of these numbers were considerably below the 1981-85 average levels: the number of children killed on the roads in 1998 was 54% less than the 1981-85 annual average, and there were falls of 54% in the number of fatal and serious injuries (combined) and of 28% in the total number of child casualties (of all severities). (See Table 29)

On weekdays, the peak time for child casualties was from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., with 28% of all weekday casualties. A further 29% occurred between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.. There was a smaller peak in the morning, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.. There was no real peak at weekends: the numbers of casualties were very broadly the same each hour from 12 noon to 7 p.m.. (See Table 31)

August was the peak month for child casualties, with 30% more than in an average month. June had 14% and July 9% more than an average month (1994-98 annual averages, standardised to 30 days). (See Table 33)

Friday was the peak day of the week for child casualties, with 25% more than an average day. Sunday had 16% fewer than an average day. (See Table 34)

In 1998, there were 1,763 child pedestrian casualties. They accounted for 43% of all pedestrian casualties of all ages (1,763 out of 4,077). Of the child pedestrian casualties, 455 were fatalities or serious injuries (18 died). Again, all these figures were considerably below the corresponding 1981-85 averages, with falls of 60% (fatalities), 56% (fatalities and serious injuries combined) and 38% (all child pedestrian casualties). (See Table 29)

There were 415 child pedal cycle casualties in 1998 (36% of the total of 1,140 pedal cycle casualties of all ages), 45% below the 1981-85 average. The child pedal cycle casualties included 64 fatalities and serious injuries, of whom 3 died. (See Table 29)

In 1998, there were 1,116 child casualties in cars, 8% of the total number of car user casualties of all ages (1,116 out of 13,828). Of the child casualties in cars, 153 were fatalities or serious injuries (9 died). While the number of child car user fatal and serious injuries were below the 1981-85 average levels, the total number of child car user casualties (of all severities) was 25% above the 1981-85 average. (See Table 29)

Children’s casualty rates (per head of population) increase with age: for children aged 0-4 the rate was 1.83 per thousand population, whereas it was 4.26 per thousand for those aged 5-11 and for the 12-15 age group it was 5.17 per thousand. The pedestrian casualty rate for younger children (0-4years) was only about a third of those for 5-11 and 12-15 year olds. (See Table 36)

The pedestrian casualty rates for boys for age groups 0-4 and 5-11 were very roughly twice those for girls, but for 12-15 year olds the gap was less marked. The difference between the sexes was even more pronounced in the case of the "driver or rider" casualty rates, for all three age-groups. (See Table 38)

Child pedestrian casualty rates in 1998 for fatal and serious injuries (combined) and for all severities, at 0.45 and 1.74 per thousand child population, were double the corresponding rates for pedestrian casualties of all ages. (See Table 28)