Transport for London has published a new report examining how deprivation and demographics impact the risk of road casualties on the capital’s roads.
According to Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, “it is more important than ever to double down on our Vision Zero goal of eliminating deaths and serious injury from London’s roads”.

Unequal roads

The new report looks at the inequalities on the road network. It shows that deprivation, gender, age and mode of transport all have a significant impact on the risk of being killed or seriously injured in a collision.

In London, the more deprived the area, the higher the risk of serious injury or death on the road. It reveals that 30% of the most deprived postcodes having more than double the number of casualties per kilometre compared with the least deprived 30%.

What’s more, it is also true for people from London’s more deprived areas travelling in London as a whole. People from the 30% most deprived home postcodes have nearly double the risk of people from the least deprived 30%.

Age and gender too

For all casualties, the 16-30 age group has the highest casualty risk across all modes and all deprivation levels.

Men and boys were found to have a higher risk of death and serious injury in road collisions than women and girls. The 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.

Inclusive approach

TfL says it is working in partnership with the boroughs, police and other stakeholders to directly tackle road danger.

“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,” says Lilli Matson, TfL’s chief safety, health and environment officer.

“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.”

TfL’s world-first Direct Vision Standard, reducing lethal blind spots on lorries, has already helped to save lives and injuries. there has also been rapid growth in London’s cycle network over the past five years. This has grown from 90km, to nearly 350km in 2022.

It is also continuing work on its Safer Junctions programme, improving some of the capital’s most dangerous and intimidating junctions. So far it has worked on  44 junctions across London.

Last month, TfL is also working to lower speeds to 20 mph on more than 140km of its roads by May 2024.

The road ahead

However, this research shows that continued action is needed.

Mayor Philip Glanville, London Councils Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Environment, says: “Every death on our roads is tragic and unacceptable. We know that traffic collisions, and the fear of traffic collisions, influence the way people choose to travel in the capital. By collectively committing to the Vision Zero goal, we can create a safer London which in turn means a healthier, more active, greener and cleaner London.

“It is vital we continue to champion this approach in a truly inclusive way that recognises the diversity,” continues Glanville. “By understanding the data and lived experience of our communities, we can and must do more, redoubling our efforts to reduce road danger until there are no deaths on the capital’s roads.”