Introduction
As part of our ongoing commitment to the safety of UK road users, we have collated key statistics from the government and other trusted sources about road use and vehicle safety.
All data and figures are correct and as up-to-date as possible at time of writing. This page is reviewed annually to ensure consistency and accuracy. It was last reviewed in October 2026.
Road casualties
How many people are killed or injured on Britain’s roads each year?
In 2025, 1,538 people were killed on Great Britain’s roads, around four people every day. A further 28,380 were seriously injured, bringing the number killed or seriously injured (KSI) to 29,918. In total, 127,883 people were reported injured.
Deaths fell by 4% compared with 2024, but the number killed or seriously injured rose by 4%. Measured against traffic, there were 4 deaths for every billion vehicle miles driven, down from 39 in 1979. Men made up 77% of those killed.
Sources: Reported road casualties Great Britain 2025: injury severity (DfT); casualty demographics (DfT)
What causes most fatal collisions?
In 2025, almost two-thirds (63%) of fatal collisions involved at least one of the “fatal four”: speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and using a mobile device. Speed was the most common, recorded in 52% of fatal collisions. Police recorded a driver or rider affected by alcohol in 13% and by drugs in 12%. Around a quarter of car occupants killed were not wearing a seatbelt.
These factors reflect the attending police officer’s judgement at the scene, so they are an indication rather than a complete measure.
Source: Reported road casualties Great Britain 2025: risk behaviours and circumstances (DfT)
Vehicles and drivers
How many vehicles are there on UK roads?
At the end of December 2025, there were 42.3 million licensed vehicles in the UK, 1% more than a year earlier. Cars made up the majority:
| Vehicle type | Licensed, end of 2025 | Share of all vehicles |
| Cars | 34.49 million | 81.5% |
| Vans (light goods vehicles) | 4.89 million | 11.6% |
| Motorcycles | 1.36 million | 3.2% |
| Lorries (heavy goods vehicles) | 0.54 million | 1.3% |
| Buses and coaches | 0.14 million | 0.3% |
| Other vehicles | 0.87 million | 2.1% |
A further 2.6 million vehicles were registered for the first time in 2025.
Sources: Vehicle licensing statistics: 2025 (DfT); RAC Foundation
How many people hold a driving licence?
In November 2025, 42.85 million people in Great Britain held a full driving licence and a further 10.51 million held a provisional licence. These DVLA figures include some people who no longer drive. In England, around 75% of adults aged 17 and over held a full licence in 2024.
Source: RAC Foundation, using DVLA driving licence data and the National Travel Survey 2024
How far does the average car travel each year?
The average car in England was driven around 7,100 miles in 2024, down from around 9,200 miles in 2002. Diesel cars averaged 8,300 miles and battery electric cars 8,900 miles, against 6,200 miles for petrol cars.
Source: RAC Foundation, using National Travel Survey table NTS0901
Road statistics
How many miles do motor vehicles travel on Great Britain’s roads each year?
In 2025, motor vehicles travelled 342.6 billion miles on Great Britain’s roads, 1.9% more than in 2024 and 1.2% above pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Car traffic rose by 2.5% to 262.4 billion miles, close to its 2019 level (0.2% below). Van traffic reached 58.8 billion miles, 10% higher than in 2019.
Source: Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2025 (DfT)
What is the total length of road in Great Britain?
In 2025, Great Britain had 247,200 miles of road, 700 miles more than in 2024. Major roads accounted for 32,000 miles, made up of 2,300 miles of motorway and 29,700 miles of ‘A’ road. These major roads make up about 13% of the total road network.
Source: Road lengths in Great Britain: 2025 (DfT)
What is the total compensation paid by local authorities for damage to people or vehicles caused by poor road conditions?
In 2025/26, local authorities in England (including London) and Wales paid £15.9 million in compensation for damage caused by poor road conditions, and spent a further £15.1 million on staff costs dealing with claims. The total of £31.0 million was 17% lower than the £37.3 million reported the year before, equivalent to £151.45 per mile of road. The average number of claims fell by about a third to 279 per authority, and 99% of claims related to potholes.
Source: Asphalt Industry Alliance, ALARM survey report 2026
What percentage of local authority roads are in poor condition?
In 2025/26, 10% of local roads in England (excluding London), 18% in London and 7% in Wales were in poor overall condition and likely to need maintenance within the next 12 months. Structurally, 16% of local roads in England and Wales – around 33,000 miles – have less than five years’ life remaining.
The estimated one-off “catch-up” cost to bring local roads up to a reasonable condition rose by 11% to a record £18.62 billion, up from £16.81 billion, and would take 12 years to complete. This averages £145.9 million per authority in England (excluding London), £38.2 million in London and £28.3 million in Wales.
Source: Asphalt Industry Alliance, ALARM survey report 2026
How many potholes are filled each year?
In 2025/26, local authorities in England (including London) and Wales filled 1.9 million potholes, more than 5,200 every day, at an estimated cost of £149.3 million. On average, a local road is now resurfaced only once every 97 years, against a recommended 10 to 20 years.
Source: Asphalt Industry Alliance, ALARM survey report 2026
Car statistics
How old is the average car?
At the end of December 2025, the average licensed car in the UK was 10 years old, 14% older than at the end of 2020. Average age varies by fuel type: at the end of 2024, petrol cars averaged 10.3 years and diesel cars 10.1 years, against 2.5 years for battery electric cars and 3.4 years for plug-in hybrids. Almost a quarter of cars (24.2%) were more than 13 years old in 2024.
Sources: Vehicle licensing statistics, United Kingdom: 2025 (DfT); RAC Foundation
How many owners will a car have in its lifetime?
Over its lifetime, the average car will be owned by four different people.
Source: SMMT Motorparc Census
How many used cars changed hands in 2025?
In 2025, the UK’s used car market grew by 2.2% to 7,807,872 transactions, up from 7,643,180 in 2024. Petrol and diesel cars still made up 89.9% of sales. Used battery electric car sales rose by 45.7% to a record 274,815, or 3.5% of the market.
Source: SMMT
What percentage of road fatalities are car occupants?
In 2025, 629 car occupants were killed on Great Britain’s roads: 41% of all 1,538 road deaths, the highest share of any road user group. This reflects the fact that cars make up most traffic; per mile travelled, car occupants are far less likely to be killed than more vulnerable road users. Car occupant deaths fell by 9% compared with 2024.
Source: Reported road casualties Great Britain 2025: road user type (DfT)
Which age groups are most at risk of being killed or seriously injured in a car?
In 2025, 20% of killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties were in collisions involving a younger driver (aged 17 to 24), even though younger drivers hold only 6.3% of full driving licences. Younger drivers made up 19% of car drivers killed. Per mile driven, younger male drivers and older female drivers had the highest KSI casualty rates of any group.
Older drivers (aged 70 and over) made up 27% of car drivers killed in 2025, up from 15% in 2004, as more people keep driving into later life.
Source: Younger and older car drivers factsheet, 2025 (DfT)
When are younger car drivers more at risk?
Between 2021 and 2025, KSI casualties among younger car drivers were concentrated later in the day and into the evening. Younger drivers were most over-represented in the early hours, making up 38% of car driver KSI casualties at 2am. Single-car collisions accounted for 36% of younger driver KSI casualties, compared with 22% for drivers aged 25 to 69.
Source: Younger and older car drivers factsheet, 2025 (DfT)
Are older drivers more at risk?
There were 6.34 million full licence holders aged 70 and over in Great Britain in 2025, 14.8% of all licences, up from 10.4% in 2012. Older car drivers are the only age group whose killed or seriously injured casualties rose between 2004 and 2025, while those for younger drivers fell by 64%, up 14% from 1,087 to 1,238. Per mile driven, older female drivers had among the highest casualty rates of any group.
More than half (56%) of older drivers killed or seriously injured were within three miles of home, compared with around 40% of other drivers. Illness or disability was recorded for 16% of older drivers in fatal or serious collisions in 2024–25.
Source: Younger and older car drivers factsheet, 2025 (DfT)
Motorbike statistics
How many motorbikes are there in the UK?
At the end of December 2025, there were 1.36 million licensed motorcycles in the UK, 3.2% of all licensed vehicles. The average licensed motorcycle was 16 years old.
Sources: Vehicle licensing statistics, United Kingdom: 2025 (DfT); RAC Foundation
How much more dangerous is it to ride a motorbike instead of driving a car?
Motorcyclists accounted for 25% of road deaths in Great Britain in 2025 but only around 1% of road traffic. Per mile travelled, a motorcyclist was around 50 times more likely to be killed than a car occupant. When injured in a collision, 39% of motorcyclists were killed or seriously injured, compared with 17% of car occupants.
Source: Reported road casualties Great Britain 2025: road user type (DfT)
How many people are killed each year while riding a motorbike?
In 2025, 386 motorcyclists were killed in Great Britain, with 5,710 seriously injured and 9,351 slightly injured. Motorcyclist deaths rose by 14% compared with 2024, while motorcycle traffic rose by only 2%.
Source: Motorcyclist factsheet, 2025 (DfT)
How many motorbike fatalities involve other vehicles?
Between 2021 and 2025, 37% of motorcyclist deaths (637 of 1,701) were in two-vehicle collisions between a motorcycle and a car. Collisions with an HGV were far less common but the most severe: 9.8% of motorcyclists injured in a collision with a single HGV were killed. A further 438 motorcyclists (26% of deaths) died in collisions where no other vehicle was involved.
Source: Motorcyclist factsheet, 2025 (DfT)
Are men more likely to be injured or killed in a motorbike accident?
Yes. Between 2021 and 2025, 92% of motorcycle casualties were male, so there were 12 times as many male as female casualties. This pattern broadly holds across all age groups.
Source: Motorcyclist factsheet, 2025 (DfT)
When are fatal collisions more likely to happen?
Between 2021 and 2025, motorcyclist KSIs on weekdays peaked from 7am to 10am and from 4pm to 7pm. At weekends there was a single peak in the early afternoon, between 12 noon and 4pm.
Source: Motorcyclist factsheet, 2025 (DfT)
Where are fatal collisions most likely to happen?
Between 2021 and 2025, 70% of motorcyclist deaths happened on rural roads, which carry 38% of motorcycle traffic. Motorways saw 3% of deaths against 6% of traffic. Most deaths (62%) happened away from junctions, compared with 48% of serious injuries.
Source: Motorcyclist factsheet, 2025 (DfT)
Van statistics
How many vans are on the road, and how far do they travel?
At the end of 2025, there were 4.89 million licensed vans in the UK. Vans travelled 58.8 billion miles on Great Britain’s roads in 2025, 10% more than before the pandemic in 2019, and van traffic has grown faster than any other vehicle type over the last 25 years. Vans now account for around one mile in every six driven.
Sources: Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2025 (DfT); RAC Foundation
How safe are vans?
Per mile driven, vans have the lowest collision involvement rate of any vehicle type. In 2025, 33 van occupants were killed and 202 vans were involved in fatal collisions. Many vans are driven for work: an estimated one in five vehicles travelling for work when involved in a collision is a van.
Sources: Reported road casualties Great Britain 2025: vehicles involved (DfT); road user type (DfT); driving for work estimates (DfT)
Lorry statistics
How many lorries are on the road, and how much do they carry?
At the end of 2025, there were 0.54 million licensed heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in the UK. Lorries travelled 16.3 billion miles in 2025, 5% less than in 2019. GB-registered lorries carried 1.53 billion tonnes of goods in the UK in 2025, and 31% of the distance they travelled was empty.
Sources: Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2025 (DfT); RAC Foundation, using Domestic road freight statistics, UK: 2025
Who is most at risk in collisions involving lorries?
Lorries are involved in relatively few collisions, but those collisions are more often fatal. In 2025, lorries made up 2% of vehicles in all injury collisions but 7% of vehicles in fatal collisions. More than 90% of people killed in collisions involving a lorry were other road users; 10 lorry occupants were killed.
The number of lorries involved in fatal and serious collisions per mile driven has fallen more than for any other vehicle type over the last 15 years.
Source: Reported road casualties Great Britain 2025: vehicles involved (DfT)
Bus and coach statistics
How safe are buses and coaches?
Few bus and coach occupants are killed: 5 in Great Britain in 2025. Their injury rate per mile is higher than for car occupants, mainly because buses carry many more people. At the end of 2025, there were 0.14 million licensed buses and coaches in the UK.
Because buses are large and run mostly in towns and cities, where there are more pedestrians and cyclists, they have the highest rate of other road users killed per mile driven of any vehicle type, followed by lorries.
Sources: Reported road casualties Great Britain 2025: road user type (DfT); vehicles involved (DfT)
Taxi and private hire statistics
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are there?
On 1 April 2026, there were 342,300 licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in England, 9% more than in 2024 and 85% more than in 2005. Private hire vehicles have driven the growth, rising 13% to 290,000, while licensed taxis fell 7% to 52,300. There were 417,300 taxi and private hire driver licences.
Source: Taxi and private hire vehicle statistics, England: 2026 (DfT)
Electric vehicle statistics
How many electric vehicles are on UK roads?
At the end of 2025, there were 2.01 million licensed zero emission vehicles in the UK, 31% more than a year earlier. 528,000 zero emission vehicles were registered for the first time in 2025, up 24%. Battery electric cars are still young: at the end of 2024, the average was 2.5 years old, against 10.3 years for petrol cars.
Sources: Vehicle licensing statistics: 2025 (DfT); RAC Foundation
Pedestrian and cyclist statistics
How many pedestrians and cyclists are killed or injured?
In 2025, 364 pedestrians were killed in Great Britain, 11% fewer than in 2024, and 5,958 were seriously injured. Two-thirds of pedestrians killed (67%) were hit by a car.
79 pedal cyclists were killed in 2025 and 4,311 were seriously injured. Cyclist deaths have fallen for five years in a row, but the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured rose by 14% compared with 2024.
Sources: Pedestrian factsheet, 2025 (DfT); Pedal cycle factsheet, 2025 (DfT); vehicles involved (DfT)
Driving for work
How many road casualties involve someone driving for work?
An estimated 583 people were killed in 2025 in collisions involving at least one person driving or riding for work, 38% of all road deaths. A further 9,221 were seriously injured. Around a quarter of vehicles involved in injury collisions were being driven for work; cars made up just under half of these, and vans a fifth.
These are new DfT estimates, published as official statistics in development. They include an allowance for vehicles whose journey purpose was not recorded, so they are higher than earlier figures.
Source: Reported road casualties Great Britain: estimates involving driving for work (DfT)
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