The number of deaths on London’s roads has fallen to the lowest level on record, despite a 20 per cent increase in pedestrian fatalities.
There were 95 road deaths in the capital in 2023, down from 102 in 2002, a six per cent reduction and better than the average fall across Great Britain.
This is the lowest annual figure in London in recent times but excluding the pandemic years, when there were fewer vehicle journeys and fewer pedestrians due to the series of lockdowns.
However the number of pedestrian deaths increased year-on-year from 41 to 49. This included six pedestrians killed in collision with a London bus, a growing area of concern.
There were eight motorcycle fatalities, up from two, and eight cyclist deaths, one more than in 2022.
The Londoners killed cycling in 2023 included Gao Gao and Harry Webb.
People walking, cycling, or motorcycling account for 82 per cent of fatalities, up from 68 per cent in 2022.
Transport for London said the fall in road deaths was “largely driven by a reduction in the number of car occupants killed”, which was “abnormally high” in 2022, when 25 passengers died.
In total, the number of people killed or seriously injured on London's roads in 2023 fell by six per cent compared to 2022, from 3,961 to 3,710.
But there was a four per cent increase in deaths or serious injuries caused by a bus – an additional five people on the previous year.
Serious injuries to cyclists decreased by nine per cent in 2023 compared to 2022 despite cycling journeys increasing by more than six per cent.
TfL’s annual road safety report said: “Fatalities in London are falling faster than serious or slight injuries.
“2022 saw the number of people killed or seriously injured return to pre-pandemic levels, however the 2023 decrease puts us back close to the trajectory required to meet the 2030 target.
“Overall, the 2023 modal make-up of people killed or seriously injured is similar to previous years, with 80 per cent being pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists.”
Caroline Russell, a Green Party member of the London Assembly, said:“Far too many people are still being killed on London’s roads. I am relieved to see that there are fewer fatalities this year, but no road deaths are acceptable – or inevitable.
“Worryingly, four boys aged 0-16 and 29 young men aged between 17-29 were killed on the road in 2023. These are marked increases, both year on year and in comparison with 2013. The mayor and TfL must investigate the causes of this devastating loss of lives.
“The continued high proportion of motorcyclist casualties shows extra action needs to be taken to reduce road danger. This is why I keep pushing the Mayor to be more proactive to ensure he achieves his Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury from London's streets by 2041.”
TfL’s target is zero bus deaths by 2030 and for nobody to be killed or seriously injured on London’s roads by 2041.
It has an interim target of a 70 per cent cut in all road deaths by 2030, compared to 2010-14, but has only achieved a 24 per cent reduction to date.
There were 3,710 people killed or seriously injured (KSI) in 2023, down on 3,961 in 2022.
Overall, there were 26,176 people injured on London’s roads (all severities) in road traffic collisions, representing a four per cent reduction on 2022 (27,207).
Compared with a decade ago, the biggest reductions in KSIs have been in Islington and Waltham Forest, of 44 per cent and 47 per cent respectively.
TfL has been increasing the number of areas that are subject to 20mph speed limits.
The number of daily cycle journeys is increasing to 1.26 million in 2023, up by 6.3 per cent since 2022 from 1.18 million.
Cars were involved in 43 out of the 94 fatal collisions. In about half of the cases, speed was a contributory factor.
Lilli Matson, TfL's chief safety, health and environment officer, claimed TfL was making “real progress” towards the Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury from the transport network.
“However, we know there is much more work to do to achieve this goal,” she said.
