UK Government Admits Traffic Accident Figures Miscounted

[st13phil]

Well, well, well. It seems HMG have been quietly cooking the statistical books to make their "Road Safety" policies look good. Short article which includes a link to the full DfT report here.

I wonder why this publication didn't get the same trumpeting from Ministers as the one earlier this year that claimed 2008 was the best year for KSI's on the UK's roads for a decade? Perhaps because this report casts more than a little doubt on the accuracy of those claims?

 

[Mr E]

I guess one should actually read the report rather than rely on the reporting of it by a politics-based motoring group.

There has been a well known issue with the differences between STATS19 data and other sources. For example, STATS19 is based upon police reports while HES is based upon hospital reports. Not all accidents are reported to the police, but many do go to A&E (or are referred to A&E) after a "minor" accident.

Each year the reports cover the variance between the major sources of data - what the source of data is, differences in reporting criteria, etc. This is the first year that the report has gone into great detail as to what they are following "criticism" (there's a loaded word for you) from ONS.

By properly looking at the available data, it's easy to see that there is a (slowing) decline in overall injuries. HES shows an increase due in part to two things - a change in the data collection and reporting method in hospitals over the past 10 years and more inclination on the part of the public to get themselves checked out (and is backed up, not in this report but from other sources, by injury claim statistics).

I would have to agree that the data only shows limited evidence for the link between reduced KSI stats and government policy.

As with most stats, things can be spinned to show policy in best light which is why I prefer unbiased independent analysis.

For background - part of the work my team do is to analyse data such as this in an unbiased way for OEM clients in the automotive world, so I have no governmental axe to grind whether the data shows trending going up or down. I do, however, have an axe to grind with injudicious reporting.

 

[Sp!ke]

From my experience you are far better to blame an injury on something other than a motor vehicle accident.

If you call an ambulance for a motoring accident you now get charged for the priviledge.

If you admit your injuries were from a motorcycle accident and you often get the 'well what did you expect if you ride a motorcycle' treatment.

So I can see how both the Police AND the A&E stats would be under what the real stats are.

 

[hawk20]

From my experience you are far better to blame an injury on something other than a motor vehicle accident.

If you call an ambulance for a motoring accident you now get charged for the priviledge.

.

Totally wrong that this is happening. You can skateboard, ski, sail, climb cliffs, skydive, pothole, and even stab your foot with a fork while gardening and not get charged but uniquely if you drive a car and have an accident charges may well be made to you or your insurance. Discrimination with no logical or ethical basis IMO.

 

[st13phil]

I guess one should actually read the report rather than rely on the reporting of it by a politics-based motoring group.

I did take the time to scan-read the full report. I agree that there has been a decline in overall injuries - by any measure - and, as you say, that decline has been slowing.

I would have to agree that the data only shows limited evidence for the link between reduced KSI stats and government policy.

<< snip >>

I do, however, have an axe to grind with injudicious reporting.

My point exactly. The truth is a difficult thing to pin down in a world where much analysis is paid for - and sometimes the conclusions edited or "influenced" prior to publication - by groups who have an axe to grind. Just as politics-based motoring groups spin statistics to suit their ends, so do HMG. The difference is that, in general, HMG get their version of the "truth" in the news first.

The real loser in all this is the general populace who continue to suffer injury or death when using our roads partly because (some) policy makers continue to look for ways to justify why their policies are successful rather than accepting that some are inneffective and adopting an alternative strategy.

 

[LimitedSlip]

The usual balls. Like it's so difficult to actually produce real truthful statistics. If there weren't so many political and manipulative intents required from the statistics, there'd be no need for myriad ways of recording/reporting it.

Record everything truthfully - then make it all available to be seen.

 

[johnsco]

There are Lies ... Damned Lies ... and Statistics.
How True !!

Johnsco

 

[JumboBeef]

No such thing as a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) anymore: they are always called Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) now.

 

[Dryce]

I did take the time to scan-read the full report. I agree that there has been a decline in overall injuries - by any measure - and, as you say, that decline has been slowing.My point exactly. The truth is a difficult thing to pin down in a world where much analysis is paid for - and sometimes the conclusions edited or "influenced" prior to publication - by groups who have an axe to grind.

You saw in the report what *you* were looking for and did exactly what the media and politicians (or any other advocate) do when they see what they are looking for - and headlined it as *you* saw it in your original post - and presumably ground your particular axe.

 

[Rory]

If you call an ambulance for a motoring accident you now get charged for the priviledge.

That's not a recent thing though - a cyclist rode his pedal bike into my wife's car at least 23 years ago (it was when we were living in our first house but can't remember the exact year) and within a few days we got a bill for the ambulance.