Road casualties fall in Oxfordshire despite regional increase
Provisional figures show Oxfordshire's road safety measures are making an impact
Newly published provisional figures from the Department for Transport suggest Oxfordshire is witnessing significant improvements in road safety. The statistics indicate a notable decline in people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on Oxfordshire’s roads, falling by around 18 per cent compared with the previous year.
In contrast, the wider Thames Valley area has seen an approximate 20 per cent increase in KSIs over the same period.
The KSI measure is considered a reliable indicator within the provisional dataset, as serious and fatal collisions are consistently reported and recorded more than less severe incidents.
According to Oxfordshire County Council, the improvements could be linked to their initiative in February 2022 that saw the introduction of 20mph speed limits in over 275 communities across the county.
Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, expressed optimism regarding the statistics.
"While these figures are still provisional, the early signs are extremely encouraging," Bearder said.
"Oxfordshire appears to be bucking the wider Thames Valley trend, with serious and fatal casualties falling significantly at a time when neighbouring areas are seeing increases."
Oxfordshire County Council aims to enhance community safety and tranquility through its road safety measures.