Road fatalities driven up by fatal four factors
Road fatalities increased to 1,538 last year, with 29,918 killed or seriously injured, according to new statistics from the Department for the Transport.
This represents an increase of four per cent on the 28,876 figure recorded in 2024.
Meanwhile, casualties of all severities were recorded at 127,883 during 2025, which is marginally down from 128,272 in 2024.
The data further found that males accounted for 77% of fatalities, 68% of those killed or seriously injured, and 61% of casualties overall.
The fatal four factors – speed, alcohol and drugs, not wearing a seatbelt, and using a mobile device – contributed to nearly two-thirds of fatal collisions in 2025, with speed a factor in 52% of fatal collisions, 13% of involving someone affected by alcohol and 12% involving someone affected by drugs.
IAM RoadSmart director of policy and external communications Nicholas Lyes said: “Aside from the emotional devastation caused by road collisions, the cost to Britain in terms of lost output, insurance, damage, and medical costs is estimated to be more than £50bn a year.
“We call on the government to be ambitious as it implements its road safety strategy as these figures show why investment in measures that to prevent collisions and improve driving standards should be seen not simply as a road safety priority, but as an economic one too.”
