THERE has been a slight increase in the number of road traffic incidents that Thames Valley Police were called out to.
New research conducted by law firm Lime Solicitors reveals shows that, by the year ending August 2023, the collisions in the region had increased, bucking the national trend.
The law firm made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Police Forces across England.
In the Thames Valley, officers responded to 8,771, compared to 8,722 in the previous 12-month period.
This means that on average, police forces in the Thames Valley responded to four more accidents every month compared to the previous year.
At a national level, data showed a 5% overall decline, from 55,006 to 51,995.
Thames Valley, and Nottinghamshire were the only forces to record an increase in accidents.
In a second FOI request, Lime Solicitors approached Ambulance Trusts to request data on severity of road traffic accidents, with the majority of patients being referred to a Major Trauma Centre or taken to A&E.
Out of 720 road traffic accidents attended by South Central Ambulance paramedics, more than half (56%) were taken to A&E and almost a quarter (24%) were referred to a Major Trauma Centre.
Martin Usher, head of serious injury at Lime Solicitors, said he felt the figures were concerning.
“This shows that there is more that can be done to further improve road safety in the region,” he said.
“There is room for more action from the government in terms of legislation, infrastructure improvements, and public awareness campaigns to ensure that road safety measures are both appropriate and enforced, especially in areas where accidents continue to rise.
“The high number of patients who required hospital care further proves the severity of road traffic accidents and the life-changing consequences they can have.
“I urge all drivers to be aware of their driving habits, respect speed limits, and understand the real-world implications of their actions. Behind every ambulance callout and police car deployed to an accident are individuals and families forever affected by its devastating effects.”
