Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users in the UK — and their situation is getting worse, not better. In 2024, 409 pedestrians were killed on Great Britain's roads — a 1% increase from 2023 and the highest figure since before the COVID-19 pandemic. 5,823 pedestrians were seriously injured. The RAC described pedestrian fatalities as "worrying" and at a level that demands urgent attention.
Unlike the long-term downward trend in overall road casualties, pedestrian deaths have been rising in recent years. The decade-long plateau in road safety improvement affects pedestrians at least as much as it affects other road user groups — and active travel policies that encourage more walking and cycling make the absence of a clear pedestrian safety strategy increasingly difficult to justify.
Key facts and figures
- 409 pedestrians killed in Great Britain in 2024 — a 1% increase from 2023, the highest figure since before the COVID-19 pandemic
- 5,823 pedestrians seriously injured in 2024
- 26% of all road fatalities are pedestrians — the second largest group after car occupants
- 8 deaths / 106 injuries — pedestrians killed and seriously injured per week on average
- 57% male, 43% female — the split of pedestrian casualties
- 29% of pedestrian fatalities occur on rural roads, despite rural roads being only 12% of pedestrian casualties
- 56–61% of pedestrian fatalities involved single-vehicle collisions with cars
- 61% of pedestrian fatalities occur outside junctions or within 20 metres of a junction
- 55% decrease in the pedestrian casualty rate per billion miles walked between 2004 and 2024
- 110 road fatalities recorded in London in 2024
409 pedestrians killed in 2024 — at the highest level since before the pandemic
In 2024, 409 pedestrians were killed on Great Britain's roads — a 1% increase from 2023 and the highest figure since before the COVID-19 pandemic. 5,823 pedestrians were seriously injured. The RAC described pedestrian fatalities as "worrying" and at a level that demands urgent attention.
Unlike the long-term downward trend in overall road casualties, pedestrian deaths have been rising in recent years. The decade-long plateau in road safety improvement affects pedestrians at least as much as it affects other road user groups.
Key facts & figures (overview)
- 409 pedestrians killed in Great Britain in 2024 — up 1% from 2023, the highest figure since before the pandemic
- 5,823 pedestrians seriously injured in 2024
- Pedestrians account for 26% of all road fatalities in 2024 — the second largest group after car occupants
- On average, 8 pedestrians died and 106 were seriously injured per week
- 57% of pedestrian casualties were male; 43% female
- Rural roads are disproportionately deadly for pedestrians: 29% of pedestrian fatalities occur on rural roads despite rural roads representing only 12% of pedestrian casualties
- 56–61% of pedestrian fatalities involved single-vehicle collisions with cars
- 61% of pedestrian fatalities occur outside junctions or within 20 metres of a junction
- The pedestrian casualty rate per billion miles walked fell 55% between 2004 and 2024
- 110 road fatalities recorded in London in 2024
Who is most at risk?
Children: Children aged under 12 are 1.8 times more likely to be casualty pedestrians than female adults of equivalent road use — reflecting their lower physical profile, unpredictable crossing behaviour, and limited perception of vehicle speed and distance.
Older adults: People over 70 are the only pedestrian age group where female casualties outnumber males — reflecting women's greater longevity and higher rates of walking for transport in older age. Older pedestrians have slower crossing speeds, reduced hearing and vision, and are more likely to sustain serious injuries from lower-speed collisions.
Deprived communities: Pedestrian casualties are consistently higher in more deprived neighbourhoods — reflecting higher pedestrian traffic volumes, fewer safe crossing facilities, higher vehicle speeds, and greater car-free household rates.
The active travel paradox
UK government policy actively promotes walking as a sustainable, healthy transport mode. Active travel funding has increased significantly in recent years. Yet pedestrian fatalities are rising — not falling. This paradox reflects the gap between transport policies that encourage walking and infrastructure policies that remain inadequate to protect pedestrians.
The specific risks facing pedestrians — inadequate crossing infrastructure, high vehicle speeds in residential areas, poor lighting on rural roads, limited pavement width — are well-documented. The 20mph limits deployed in many UK cities may reduce severity of collisions but evidence on their effect on frequency is contested.
Sources & references
- DfT / Gov.UK – Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: Pedestrian Factsheet 2024 (September 2025)
- DfT / Gov.UK – Reported Road Casualties Great Britain, Annual Report 2024
- BRAKE – UK Collision and Casualty Statistics
From food hygiene and fire safety to first aid, mental health and more, we offer a wide range of accredited, online courses you can start today.
Browse all 22 accredited courses →
Mark writes about workplace health and safety, road and transport risk, compliance and accredited online training for Online CPD Academy.