Forty-eight people die on South West roads in 2023

Of those killed, 37 were men, 27 people were in cars, nine people were motorcyclists and 85% died on rural roads

Forty-eight people were killed on Devon and Cornwall roads in 2023, with a further 702 people seriously injured, figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) have shown.

Of those killed, 37 were men, 27 people were in cars, nine people were motorcyclists and 85% died on rural roads.

The Vision Zero South West, a road safety partnership made up of 14 bodies and founded in 2019, has committed to reducing deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030.

The latest figures show a downward trend in both fatalities and serious injuries from the 2016-2018 baseline of 59 and 772.

'Devastating impact'

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "It’s vital to remember that these aren’t just numbers – these are people’s loved ones and family members, parents, children, brothers, sisters, friends.

"Each one of these fatal and serious collisions has a devastating impact on those involved and the wider community.

"We will continue to work hard to reduce the number of people harmed and affected on our roads."

She said the trend made her feel "encouraged", but added that there was "clearly still much to be done" to "achieve our goal of eradicating death and serious injury on Devon and Cornwall roads".