According to recent data, the number of road fatalities in Somerset decreased from 25 to 21 in 2022.

While the drop is welcome, officials emphasise the need for road users to prioritise safety.

The Somerset Council's road safety team receives police reports following injury collisions and conducts research to identify trends from them. They then use the data to improve safety across Somerset's network by conducting an annual Road Casualty Review.

Analysis shows that most collisions involve one or more of the "fatal five" behaviours: intoxicated driving, careless or inconsiderate driving, excessive speed, mobile phone use, and failing to wear a seatbelt. In 2022, 75% of the fatal collisions recorded had a link to one of these behaviours, according to police reports.

Of rising concern across the whole Avon and Somerset Police Area is a notable increase in the number of fatal collisions recording at least one vehicle crossing a road into the path of another one. In 2022, 50% of collisions involved this type of manoeuvre.

Most of the collisions occurred on rural sections of the highway network, with two deaths occurring on Trunk Roads, ten on A roads, three on B roads, and five on C-class and Unclassified roads.

Of the collisions, analysis shows that 50% of incidents occurred in Sedgemoor District, with five in Mendip, four in South Somerset, and one in Somerset West & Taunton.

Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council's Lead Member for Travel and Digital, said, "Every death on our roads is one too many and a tragedy. These statistics are concerning but emphasise the importance of prioritising safe behaviours while travelling. We are dedicated to working with our partners and the road users of Somerset to minimize the number of casualties on the network."

The Somerset Road Safety team provides advice and education to thousands of people every year, including running Bikeability courses for school children and training School Crossing Patrols. The Government's THINK! road safety campaign, which is backed by Somerset Council, also has a designated program to improve safety on country roads.

The latest statistics show that the number of road fatalities in Somerset has been fluctuating over the past few years, with 23 collisions and 26 casualties recorded in 2018, 22 collisions and 22 casualties in 2019, 12 collisions and 12 casualties in 2020, and 24 collisions and 25 casualties in 2021. The 2020 figures may have been affected by Covid-19-related traffic and travel restrictions.