Pedestrian Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) Casualties in Northern Ireland, 2013-2017 has been published today

Date published: 06 June 2019

Pedestrian Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) Casualties in Northern Ireland, 2013-2017 is now available.

DRD statistics publication

This bespoke analysis was commissioned by Promotions and Outreach Branch, Department for Infrastructure (DfI), and supplements the NI Road Safety Strategy (NIRSS) to 2020 Annual Statistical Report.

The publication is available on the DfI website at: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/statistics-and-research/road-safety-research

Key points

Trend Information

  • In the early years of the NIRSS, pedestrian KSI casualty numbers tended to fluctuate, regularly moving above and below the 2004-2008 baseline of 207. More recently, numbers began to fall in 2012, reaching a low of 158 in 2014. In the past three years, numbers of pedestrian KSI casualties have started to increase again, with the 190 recorded in 2017 being the greatest number since 2012.
  • In the five years 2013-2017, pedestrians were the second largest road user KSI casualty group: there were 879 pedestrian KSIs in this five-year period, accounting for 22% of all KSIs. The proportion in NI has been steadily increasing since the NIRSS to 2020 strategy baseline (17% in 2004-2008), until the three most recent five-year time periods, all of which reported 22%.
  • Given the fact that pedestrian miles travelled account for just 3% of all miles travelled per person per year, pedestrian KSI casualties (22%) are therefore greatly over-represented in road traffic collision statistics – and this yields insight as to why pedestrians are deemed a vulnerable road user.

Pedestrian KSI Casualty Profile

In 2013-2017:

  • Most pedestrian KSIs were male - over three-fifths (61%) were male compared with 39% female, and this is unchanged since the 2004-2008 baseline. Data from the Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI) shows that in the last five years, approximately half of all miles walked are by males, meaning that males are overrepresented in pedestrian KSI statistics.
  • Over one-quarter (27%) of pedestrian KSIs were aged 0-15 years, with a further 21% aged 65+ years. Data from the TSNI shows that in the last five years, under one-fifth (17%) of all miles walked are by those aged 0-15 years, while a further 14% of miles walked are by those aged 65+, meaning these two age groups are over-represented in pedestrian KSI statistics.
  • Older females are the most over-represented group within pedestrian KSI data. Females aged 65+ accounted for just 11% of the miles walked by females, yet they made up 26% of female pedestrian KSI casualties.
  • Pedestrian KSIs are more likely to occur in the afternoon and early evening, with over one-third of all pedestrian KSIs occurring between the hours of 3pm and 7pm. The other time period of note is Sunday morning between 1am and 3am – in the five years 2013-2017, 29 pedestrian KSI casualties were recorded at this time.
  • Analysis by the month of the year reveals that pedestrian KSI numbers increased in the Autumn and Winter months, with November recording the greatest number of pedestrian KSIs (96, or 11%), and July the fewest numbers (55, or 6%).
  • The most frequently reported principal causation of pedestrian KSIs was ‘Heedless of traffic crossing carriageway’, which accounted for over one-quarter (26%) of all pedestrian KSIs.
  • The most frequently reported principal causation of pedestrian fatalities was ‘Pedestrian impaired by alcohol’, which accounted for almost one-fifth (18%) of all pedestrian fatalities.
  • Over three-fifths (63%) of pedestrian KSI casualties were responsible for the collisions in which they were injured.
  • The vast majority (85%) of pedestrian KSI casualties occurred on urban roads, with a further 13% occurring on rural roads. In comparison, a much smaller proportion of all KSI casualties occurred on urban roads (42%) and over half (53%) occurred on rural roads.
  • The majority (53%, or 39 out of 74) of pedestrian fatalities occurred on roads with a 30mph speed limit. A further 39% (29 out of 74) of pedestrian fatalities occurred on roads with a 60mph speed limit. A much larger proportion (81%, or 653 out of  805) of pedestrian serious injuries (SIs) occurred on 30mph roads.

Walking Behaviours – Travel Survey for NI (TSNI) 2015-2017

  • 17% of respondents stated that they never walk anywhere for 20 minutes or more. Just over one-third (34%) said they walk for 20 minutes or more every day, with a similar proportion (32%) reporting at least once a week.
  • Respondents were asked what would encourage them to walk more often. The top response was ‘Better weather’ (37%) followed by ‘Time of the year’ (17%); however, the next five responses all related to footpaths - better lighting on footpaths at night (16%); more pleasant footpaths (15%); better maintained footpaths (11%); more footpaths (11%); and keeping footpaths clear (10%).
  • The most common reason cited for feeling unsafe while walking was that there was no footpath, with 35% of respondents giving this answer. Over a quarter of respondents said that heavy traffic, motorists driving without care for pedestrians, and traffic travelling above the speed limit made them feel unsafe (all with similar percentages of 29%, 27% and 25%, respectively).

Notes to editors: 

  1. Pedestrian Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) Casualties, 2013-2017 is the sixth in the problem profile series and is an update of the previous profile of pedestrian casualties in 2010-2014. 
  2. The majority of the data within the report derives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Road Traffic Collision Statistics, and is typically based on the period 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017. The report first looks at the overall trend in pedestrian KSI casualty numbers from a 2004-2008 baseline until 2017. The profile of pedestrian KSIs in 2013-2017 is then examined (age, gender), followed by analysis of when and where pedestrian collisions occur, principal cause of collision, and who is deemed responsible. A series of maps showing areas with the greatest number of pedestrian KSIs is also included.
  3. Walking data from the 2015-2017 Travel Survey for NI (TSNI) is also presented: walking frequency, reasons why pedestrians feel unsafe when walking by the road, and what would encourage pedestrians to walk more often. A total of 5,463 people responded to the 2015-2017 TSNI.
  4. The Department will use the information presented in this publication to support policy development. The report provides departmental officials with the current picture of pedestrian KSI casualties, and provides evidence to allow them to consider the best ways to try to reduce casualty numbers.
  5. Further information and electronic copies of Pedestrian Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) Casualties in Northern Ireland, 2013-2017 are available at: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/statistics-and-research/road-safety-research
  6. For more information relating to this publication, including additional analysis, breakdowns of data, or alternative formats please contact:

    Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch,
    Room 4.13c,
    Clarence Court,
    10 - 18 Adelaide Street,
    Town Parks, Belfast,
    BT2 8GB

    Telephone: 028 9054 0029
    E-mail: asrb@nisra.gov.uk
    Website: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/dfi-statistics-and-research
     
  7. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or email: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.

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