There is a long term downward trend for road traffic casualties within the Dorset Council area but this appears to be levelling off. This trend is similar nationally and for the south-west region.
Casualties are categorised by severity:
- fatal - death as a direct result of collision within 30 days
- serious - includes over night detention in hospital (paralysis, fractures, major lacerations)
- slight - includes whiplash, sprains or minor lacerations
Casualty figures
The table below shows the number of road traffic casualties on roads within the Dorset Council area by month for 2023, 2024 and the 2005/09 average.
| Month | Killed or seriously injured | All casualties | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2005/09 | 2023 | 2024 | 2005/09 | 2023 | 2024 |
| January | 19 | 8 | 19 | 128 | 90 | 68 |
| February | 16 | 10 | 9 | 117 | 53 | 43 |
| March | 18 | 8 | 16 | 128 | 41 | 77 |
| April | 21 | 15 | 13 | 121 | 67 | 63 |
| May | 20 | 17 | 14 | 136 | 88 | 94 |
| June | 22 | 12 | 20 | 139 | 77 | 109 |
| July | 22 | 26 | 21 | 142 | 93 | 74 |
| August | 24 | 17 | 9 | 152 | 81 | 82 |
| September | 23 | 20 | 15 | 140 | 84 | 75 |
| October | 26 | 8 | no data | 147 | 62 | no data |
| November | 20 | 7 | no data | 151 | 63 | no data |
| December | 18 | 14 | no data | 128 | 72 | no data |
| Total | 249 | 162 | 136 | 1629 | 871 | 685 |
| Monthly Average | 21 | 14 | 15 | 136 | 73 | 76 |
Average figures in the table above are rounded to the nearest whole number and therefore may not equal the total.
Due to the validation process validated casualty data is typically two to three months behind.
Data for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is not included.
Collisions occurring on the trunk road network, which is managed by National Highways, are included in these figures. Trunk road network within the Dorset Council area is the A35 from Bere Regis to the border with Devon County Council, the A31 from Bere Regis to the border with Hampshire and the A303 from the border with Somerset County Council to the border with Wiltshire Council.
Casualty tables and charts
- view annual casualty figures 2005 to 2022 broken down by road user group
- view rolling 12 month casualty chart for January 2018 to September 2024
- view rolling five year average casualties for January 2018 to September 2024. These provide a better indication of long term trends
If you are concerned about a particular road in your area we suggest you contact your Parish/Town Council
Future casualty reduction targets
Our vision is to improve road safety by reducing the number of road deaths and serious injuries (KSIs) in Dorset by 40% to 213 KSIs by 2030 compared to the five year baseline for 2015 to 2019 of 355 KSIs, with a vision of zero KSIs by 2050.
Road Safety Plan
View the Dorset Road Safety Plan for 2022.