Pedestrian Deaths and Speed - Revised risk data

19 September 2010

The Daily Telegraph  says the Think! campaign used old figures, based on 1970s data, since when car design has changed radically and emergency medical care improved dramatically. The Telegrapgh says the latest research shows that the probability of death is now 7% at 30mph and 31% at 40mph.

Mike Penning, the road safety minister said: “... the fact remains that the risk of death is still approximately four times higher when a pedestrian is hit at 40mph than at 30mph. So no one should be in any doubt that 30mph limits protect pedestrians, and that to speed through residential areas puts lives at risk.”