Rise in people killed and injured on Norfolk’s roads

Figures from the Department of Transport show 2,059 casualties were reported in 2022 – up from 1,801 the year before.

But the level was down from the 2,266 road casualties reported in 2019, before the pandemic.

The data also shows more people were killed with 41 deaths.

That was up from 19 in 2021, however that year included periods of Covid lockdown which significantly reduced traffic levels.

There were 432 people seriously injured.

READ MORE: Police warning to drivers as five killed on Norfolk's roads

Outside of coronavirus lockdowns there has been no significant improvement in road crash fatality figures since around 2010.

The most common cause of fatal collisions in Norfolk was loss of control, closely followed by failing to look properly.

One of the fatal accidents so far this year saw three people killed on the A47 near Runcton (Image: Newsquest)Drug driver Aurelijus Cielevicius was jailed for the crash that killed Jade Mace, Paul Carter and Lisa Carter (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: "Confirmation that last year saw a rise in the number of casualties on our roads is a chilling reminder that there remains so much work to be done to improve road safety, even if statistically we have some of the safest roads in Europe.”

A spate of 12 fatal accidents resulting in 15 deaths across Norfolk in the first three months of this year prompted police to issue a plea to drivers. 

Seven of those came in the space of just a few days, including one incident near King's Lynn in which three people were killed.

READ MORE: King's Lynn man imprisoned for killing three in A47 crash

Other fatal accidents seen this year have included a cyclist in Norwich and a 92-year-old woman who died after being hit by a bus.

Norfolk roads policing chief inspector Jon Chapman (Image: Newsquest)

Chief Inspector Jon Chapman said: “There is a shared responsibility amongst drivers to keep each other safe.

“Your choices have a direct impact on those around you. It is not just your life you are risking when you rush your decision-making at junctions or fail to spot hazards as they appear on the road around you.”