Latest Road Casualty Figures for Devon and Cornwall Released: 48 Fatalities in 2023

The Department for Transport (DfT) has published the latest road casualty statistics for Devon and Cornwall, revealing 48 fatalities on the region’s roads throughout 2023. In addition to this, 702 people were seriously injured, as shown in the validated figures.

For those interested, the full data can be explored via an interactive dashboard created by the DfT, offering insights into casualty types such as age, gender, and road user categories.

Aiming for Safer Roads by 2030

The Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, which was established in 2019, has pledged to cut road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. Despite a drop in both fatalities and serious injuries compared to the 2016-2018 baseline, Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner and chair of Vision Zero South West, emphasised that there’s still significant work ahead.

“These aren’t just numbers – these are people’s loved ones and family members, parents, children, brothers, sisters, friends,” Alison said. “Each fatal and serious collision has a devastating impact, and we will continue working hard to reduce the number of people harmed on our roads.”

While the reduction in casualties is promising, the goal of completely eradicating road deaths and serious injuries in Devon and Cornwall is ambitious, requiring cooperation and commitment from all sectors of the community. Alison added, “Everyone has a role in making our roads safer.”

Focus on Motorcyclist Safety

One of the areas that Vision Zero South West has heavily invested in over the last two years is motorcyclist safety. This comes after a tragic increase in motorcycle fatalities in 2022, which saw 16 deaths. In response, a task group was formed, launching various efforts to improve road safety for motorcyclists.

Among these efforts were:

• Operation Cossett: A police operation using drones to monitor motorcyclists’ behaviour on the roads, with immediate roadside education.
• Motorcycle Simulator: A state-of-the-art simulator was launched in partnership with the DfT to train young motorcyclists in hazard perception.
• Behaviour Change Campaign: A campaign, developed in collaboration with the Cabinet Office’s Behavioural Science team, aimed at changing attitudes toward road safety.
• Community Engagement: Increased interaction with the motorcycle community, including promotion of training schemes.

These efforts seem to have had an impact, with the latest figures showing a reduction in motorcycle fatalities to nine in 2023, down from 16 the previous year. This positive trend has continued into 2024, with six fatalities recorded so far.

Projects and Collaborations

Vision Zero South West supports a wide range of projects aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries. Recent initiatives include funding advanced training courses for young drivers and motorcyclists, purchasing speed detection equipment for Devon & Cornwall Police, and trialling an AI camera system that detects seatbelt and mobile phone offences. The partnership also recently funded a Ford Focus RS to help engage younger car enthusiasts in road safety.

For more information on Vision Zero South West, including the latest updates on their projects, you can visit their website