ABSTRACT
The number of road accidents appears to be one of the few traffic statistics which has been steadily improving over time (Box 7.1). Moreover, it is a measure in which the United Kingdom compares favourably with other countries (Box 7.2). But such measures provide an incomplete picture in that they do not record the changes in the behaviour of unprotected road users as they try to adapt themselves to the growing volume of traffic. These adaptations can be readily observed and they are not without cost. Furthermore, with the notable exception of air transport (which accounts for only a very small fraction of travel within the United Kingdom) those modes of travel with the worst safety record are growing fastest. Number of Accidental Fatalities in Great Britain from Road Transport https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315070681/949cd7be-7a53-47fe-a3c9-30b3780ab816/content/ufig119_1_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> Source: Department of Transport, 1994 International Road Deaths 1990 https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">
Country
Road deaths per 100,000 people
Car user deaths per billion car km
Great Britain
9.4
7.1
West Germany
12.6
10.1
East Germany
18.9
11.4
France
19.9
21.9
Italy
12.3
14.5
Luxembourg
18.7
16.7
Netherlands
9.2
9.1
Spain
23.2
62.9
Austria
20.0
28.7
Finland
13.0
10.3
Norway
7.8
7.4
Switzerland
9.0
8.5
Sweden
13.4
12.7
Yugoslavia
21.0
91.6
Source: Department of Transport, 1992