The Department for Transport's final figures for 2025 present a mixed picture of road safety in Great Britain.
There were 1,538 reported road fatalities, down 4% from 1,602 in 2024. This was one of the lowest annual totals recorded outside the years affected by the pandemic.
At the same time, 29,918 people were killed or seriously injured, an increase of 4% from 2024. The total number of casualties of all severities changed little, falling from 128,272 to 127,883.
The fall in deaths is welcome. It is not, however, the whole measure of progress. A serious injury can change a person's life and the lives of their family. When fatalities fall but killed or seriously injured casualties rise, the year cannot be described as a simple success.
Age and mode of travel also change the picture. The Department for Transport found that car-driver and car-passenger killed or seriously injured rates per mile were highest among people aged 17 to 29. Among children aged 16 and under, pedestrians accounted for the largest share of killed or seriously injured casualties. Motorcyclists had the highest casualty rate per mile of any main road-user group.
The figures also show where serious harm is concentrated. Rural roads carried 45% of traffic but accounted for 60% of fatalities. Single carriageways accounted for 77% of fatalities and 78% of killed or seriously injured casualties.
These are police-reported casualties, not every incident or injury that occurred. They are nevertheless the principal official statistics used to understand road harm and monitor national progress.
YRSE programmes are built around the different roles young people have on the road. E-Mobility Education helps students aged 11 to 15 make safer decisions about e-bikes, e-scooters, visibility and shared spaces. DriverReady prepares students aged 14 to 17 for the pressure, responsibility and decisions that come with being a passenger and future driver. Both move beyond knowing a rule to practising strategies and making plans.