Increase in fatal road traffic collisions in the Thames Valley during 2014
During 2014, in the Thames Valley Police area, a total of 78 people died in 72 road traffic collisions. This is an increase from 2013 when there 55 fatal collisions in which 57 people died.
The 2014 figures are however provisional as there are still pending inquests in relation to some of the road traffic collisions that occurred in the Thames Valley Police area during 2014.
Ch Insp Henry Parsons, Head of Roads Policing at Thames Valley Police said: ‘The rise in fatal collisions across the Thames Valley is exceptionally disappointing with each fatality causing untold misery and distress to the loved ones of the people who died.
Each statistic represents a family which has lost someone in sudden and tragic circumstances and our thoughts remain with families affected in this way. Specially-trained family liaison officers are appointed to provide support in these circumstances.
The causes of the collisions are varied, with many still under investigation. Some of these involve criminal investigations for causing death by dangerous driving or death by careless driving.‘
Compared to the 2013 figures there has been a rise in the numbers of pedestrians, cyclists, car drivers, car passengers and heavy goods vehicles drivers killed in traffic collisions.
However there was a reduction in the number of motorcyclists and light goods vehicles drivers and passengers killed on the road network in the Thames Valley Police area.
Last year, 2014, in Buckinghamshire 20 people died in 16 collisions, 19 people died in Berkshire in 18 collisions, 12 people died in Milton Keynes in 11 collisions and 27 people died in 27 collisions in Oxfordshire.
Ch Insp Parsons added: ‘Our team works in partnership with local authorities and other emergency services to improve road safety. We will continue to deliver targeted enforcement to reduce the risks of collisions.
In addition we will continue to deliver innovative, appropriate, alternatives to prosecution as well as our ‘Safe Drive, Stay Alive’ package aimed at young people and our ‘Bike Safe’ campaign for motorcyclists.‘
