Image: TfL
New data shows people living in London’s most deprived areas are twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in road collisions.
The report on inequalities on the road network, published by TfL on 18 April, shows that deprivation, gender, age and mode of transport all have a significant impact on the risk faced by road users.
The report finds that in London the more deprived the area, the higher the risk that someone travelling in that area will be seriously injured or killed in a road traffic collision in that area, with the 30% most deprived postcodes having more than double the number of casualties per kilometre compared with the least deprived 30%.
The same is also true for people living in London’s more deprived areas who are travelling in London as a whole.
The more deprived the area someone lives in, the higher the risk they will be injured or killed in a road traffic collision wherever they are travelling in London, with people from the 30% most deprived home postcodes having nearly double the risk of people from the least deprived 30%.
For all casualties, the 16-30 age group has the highest casualty risk across all modes and all deprivation levels. Meanwhile, for all age groups, the risk is higher amongst the most deprived population.
Men and boys were found to have a higher risk of death and serious injury in road collisions than women and girls with a baseline risk of 0.53 per 1,000 population compared to 0.22.
Men living in the most deprived postcodes are nearly three times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in road collisions than women living in the same areas.
TfL says it is working in partnership with the boroughs, police and other stakeholders to directly tackle road danger.
Lilli Matson, TfL’s chief safety, health and environment officer, said: “This new data on inequalities on the road network shows that it is more important than ever to double down on our Vision Zero goal of eliminating deaths and serious injury from London’s roads.
“Protecting everyone on the road is a priority for us and we will continue to research how road risk varies for certain groups of Londoners and engage with boroughs, police and other stakeholders to reduce these inequalities.
“Without safe streets we know that people won’t choose the most healthy and sustainable modes of transport and there is still much more to do to eradicate road deaths and serious injuries. We are determined to make London a greener, more sustainable and safer city for everyone.”
Professor Nicola Christie, president of the London Road Safety Council, said: “I am delighted to see the new report from Transport For London which systematically analysed the relationship between deprivation, sex, age, mode of transport and casualties.
“It is not acceptable that twice as many people were killed or seriously injured per kilometre of road network in the most deprived 30% of London, compared to the 30% in the least deprived areas.
“This report shows that the mayor of London is committed to addressing these unequal road outcomes which exacerbate health inequalities amongst the most deprived in our cities and through the Vision Zero Action Plan will work to create a safer more sustainable road environment for all.”
21 April 2023