The number of children killed or injured while crossing roads in England is significantly higher in deprived areas compared to wealthier ones, official data from the Department for Transport (DfT) indicates. Analysis reveals that child pedestrian casualties in the most deprived 10% of areas are nearly five times greater than those in the least deprived 10%.

According to the DfT report, over 20% of child pedestrians killed or seriously injured resided in the most deprived areas, while only 4% were from the least deprived. The gap in road casualties between affluent and deprived communities, especially among younger people, has widened over the last decade.

Campaigners have called attention to a 14% increase in child casualties, rising from 325 deaths in 2024 to 372 in 2025. Rebecca Guy of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents emphasized the need to address inequality in road safety efforts, stating that government initiatives should focus on supporting communities at the greatest risk.

Speeding was identified as a factor in 52% of fatal collisions on roads across Great Britain in 2025. The data also showed a gender disparity, with males comprising more than three-quarters of fatalities across various types of accidents. Despite heavy use, motorways were recorded as the safest roads per mile traveled, accounting for only 6% of deaths while carrying 21% of traffic.

The DfT’s current road safety strategy, the first in over ten years, acknowledges the heightened risks faced by people living in deprived areas. The plan aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries for all road users, with a particular focus on tackling disparities linked to socioeconomic factors.

Overall, 29,918 people were reported killed or seriously injured on Great Britain’s roads in 2025, including 2,432 children under the age of 16. This figure represents a 3% increase compared to the average for 2022 to 2024. However, the total number of fatalities fell by 4% to 1,538 during the same period.

The findings highlight persistent inequalities in road safety outcomes, with serious accidents disproportionately affecting those in poorer communities. The government and road safety organisations face mounting pressure to implement targeted interventions to address this growing divide.