Two years have now passed since changes were introduced to the Highway Code in 2020.

So we set out to investigate whether there had been any changes to road safety in the UK.

One of the most significant changes to the Highway Code was the hierarchy of road users designed to create ‘clearer and stronger priorities’ for pedestrians under road traffic accident law.

It advises drivers turning into or out of a junction to give way to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders who are either crossing or waiting to cross the road. 

The aim was to improve the safety of the most vulnerable by also placing the greatest responsibility to reduce danger on vehicles that can cause the most harm such as large goods vehicles, vans, taxis and motorcycles. 

To identify any changes to road safety, Personal Injury Claims UK submitted Freedom of Information Requests to every police force in the UK.

We asked for the number of pedestrian road collisions between 2020 and 2024, before and after changes were introduced.

Findings showed some significant results in regards to pedestrian accidents, including cases were pedestrian collisions resulting in fatalities and serious injuries actually increased after the Highway Code was updated.

See examples of our results below. Do check back on this page to check your area as we are continually updating with new figures.

Derbyshire

Accidents between vehicles and pedestrians increased by 17% since 2022in Derbyshire.

Figures show more accidents happened between 2022-23 compared with 2020-2021, prior to the Highway Code amendments.

The amount of serious injuries sustained by pedestrians after a road collision rose by a staggering 33%. 

Similarly, the number of slight injuries went up by 14%, according to Derbyshire Police. 

The number of deaths however did slightly decrease with 14 recorded incidents in Derbyshire between 2020-21, down to 10 fatalities between 2022/23.

Durham

There were more fatalities and serious injuries between 2022-23 compared with 2020-2021 (prior to the Highway Code amendments).

Pedestrian deaths caused by cars tripled with 4 recorded incidents in Durham between 2020-21, rising to 12 between 2022/23

The amount of serious injuries sustained by pedestrians after a road collision rose by 7%.

Similarly, the number of overall collisions in the county rose by 5%, with a total of 242 incidents between 2020/21, up to 254 in 2022/23.

The amount of slight injuries sustained went up by just 1%, according to Durham Constabulary.

Devon and Cornwall

The number of overall collisions in Devon & Cornwall rose by 29%, with a total of 387 recorded incidents between 2022/23, up from 301 recorded in 2020/21.

Similarly, the amount of pedestrians sustaining serious injuries increased by 27% – from 83 before Highway Code changes, to 105 afterwards.

Figures for ‘slight injuries’ sustained went up by 31% from 208 to 273.

One less pedestrian death caused by cars was recorded between 2022/23, down from a recorded 10 fatalities in 2020/21.

Cumbria

The number of overall collisions rose by 26%, with a total of 501 recorded incidents between 2022/23, up from 399 recorded in 2020/21.

Similarly, the amount of pedestrians sustaining serious injuries increased by 13% – from 120 before Highway Code changes, to 136 afterwards.

Figures for ‘slight injuries’ sustained went up by 31% from 272 to 357.

One more pedestrian death caused by cars was recorded between 2022/23, up from a recorded 7 fatalities in 2020/21.

West Midlands

The number of pedestrians who sustained serious injuries increased by a staggering 57%, from 6,279 recorded between 2020/21, up to 9,867 in 2022/23.

Figures for those who were killed by cars rose by 20%, – from 440 recorded fatalities to 526 in 2022/23.

Similarly, the number of ‘slight injuries; sustained by pedestrians went up 42%, rising from 11,865 in 2020/21 to 16,853. 

Overall collisions between cars and pedestrians rose by 47% in the West Midlands with a total of 27,246, up from 18,584 in 2020/21.

Norfolk & Suffolk

The number of pedestrians killed by cars rose by a staggering 57%, from 7 recorded fatalities between 2020/21 to 11 deaths in 2022/23.

Figures also soared by 38% for those who sustained serious injuries climbing from 98 to 135.

There was a 24% increase in the number of ‘slight injuries’ sustained by pedestrians which went up from 265 to 329 in just three years.

Overall collisions between cars and pedestrians went up by 28% with 475 incidents recorded by police between 2022/23, up for 370 in 2020/21.

Northumbria

The number of pedestrians killed by cars rose by 38%, from 23 recorded fatalities between 2020/21 to 32 deaths in 2022/23.

Those who sustained serious injuries went up by 23% in the same period from a whopping 346 to 427.

Figures also increased for pedestrians who sustained slight injuries following a collision with a car. A 24% jump was reported in three years from 821 to 1,018.

Overall collisions between cars and pedestrians again hiked by24% with 1,190 incidents recorded by police in 2020/23 to 1,477 between 2022/23.

Northern Ireland

The number of pedestrians killed by cars rose by 129%, from 14 recorded fatalities between 2020/21 to 32 deaths in 2022/23.

Those who sustained serious injuries went up by 15% in the same period from a whopping 266 to 306. 

Figures also increased for pedestrians who sustained slight injuries following a collision with a car. A 24% jump was reported in three years from 738 to 789.

Overall collisions between cars and pedestrians in Northern Ireland climbed by 11% with 8,895 incidents recorded by police in 2022/23 up from 7,425 between 2020/21.

Leicestershire

The number of pedestrians killed by cars rose by a staggering 83% in Leicestershire, from 6 recorded fatalities between 2020/21 to 11 between 2022/23.

Those who sustained serious injuries went up by 73% in the same period from a total of 70 to 121.

Figures also skyrocketed for pedestrians who sustained slight injuries following a collision with a car. An 80% jump was reported in three years from 134 to 241.

Overall collisions between cars and pedestrians in Leicestershire climbed by a massive 78%, with 373 incidents recorded by police in 2022/23 up from 210 between 2020/21.

Avon & Somerset

Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire

Cambridgeshire

Cheshire

Cleveland

Essex

Gloucestershire

Greater London

Greater Manchester

Gwent

Humberside

Kent

Lincolnshire

North Wales

Nottinghamshire

Scotland

South Yorkshire

Sussex

Thames Valley