By Lola Bailey
The latest traffic accident statistics for Leicester reveal a complex picture of road safety, with both positive and concerning trends. Many of these accidents are due to people drink driving, not wearing their seatbelts or texting and driving.
The number of fatal accidents in Leicester saw an uptick in 2023, with five fatalities recorded, consistent with the figure from 2021 and 2022. This represents a notable fluctuation compared to the one fatality reported in 2024 (the data for this year is not complete as of today) and 2017, but still far from the peak of 15 fatalities in 2018.
The city’s roads have seen a decline in fatalities since that year, which provides some reassurance, though the deaths of even a few individuals are an ongoing cause for concern.
Jonathan Clarkson, the spokesperson for the Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland Road Safety Partnership, said: “I would certainly push the message about wearing the seat belts, not being distracted by your mobile phone. Do what makes sure that you stay within speed limits and not drink drive.”
The sheer volume of minor incidents suggests there may be a lack of attention to crucial safety measures that could prevent crashes from escalating in severity.
Looking at the historical data, the sharp dip in total accidents in 2020 (443 incidents) was largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. With fewer cars on the road during that period, traffic accidents saw a significant decrease. Since then, however, road incidents have begun to creep back up, with the number of crashes reaching 495 in 2023, reflecting a return to pre-pandemic patterns of road use.
Leicester’s road accident statistics for 2023 reflect an ongoing mix of improvements and challenges. While the overall decline in casualties and slight accidents is a positive development, the rise in serious crashes underscores the city’s need for continued efforts in making its roads safer for all users.
Despite the reduction in overall incidents and fatalities in recent years, road safety advocates in Leicester continue to call for a stronger emphasis on infrastructure improvements, traffic law enforcement, and public awareness campaigns.
Jonathan also works with a third party marketing agency to come up with messages for drivers.
“Last year (2023), we did it about vulnerable road users, so cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders. Now the horse riders isn’t pertinent to the city, but, obviously, it is to Leicestershire and Rutland.
“So we did three separate social media messages that went out for about six weeks through Instagram, TikTok, Google Display Network, Facebook.”
Last year they did one on school gate parking in October.
“These are just things to remind people that come in people’s feeds and stuff like that. And it’s just sort of that reminder in the same way that I went and spoke to the media reminding people not to drink and drive,” he said.
With 2025 now underway, local authorities and advocates are determined to build on these trends, ensuring that Leicester’s roads become safer and more resilient in the years ahead.