1 week Ago
Wales has the second-highest rate of accidental deaths in the UK. According to a new report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), people in Wales are almost a third more likely to die due to an accident than in England. The report, titled 'Safer Lives, Stronger Nation,' reveals that accidental death rates in Wales have risen by 41 per cent over the last decade, with accidents now claiming more than 1,200 lives each year.
This increase can be seen across almost every type of accident. The report also highlights that fatalities on Welsh roads are 18 per cent higher than the UK average. Motorcyclists and bus travellers are particularly vulnerable, with accidental death rates 78 per cent and 260 per cent higher respectively than the UK average.
However, there are lower rates of accidental death among both pedestrians (35 per cent lower) and pedal cyclists (26 per cent lower) in Wales compared to the UK’s overall rate. The rate of non- transport fatal accidents in Wales is also 22 per cent higher than in the UK as a whole. This is mainly due to the fact that deaths from accidental falls are around a quarter higher in Wales than in the rest of the UK.
RoSPA is calling on the Government to introduce a National Accident Prevention Strategy to save lives, boost the economy and free up capacity in the NHS. READ MORE: Steve Cole, director of policy, campaigns and public affairs at RoSPA, said: "Wales is facing an accident crisis. "People in Wales are substantially more likely to suffer a serious accident today than they were 20 years ago.
"We must take action now to stop further preventable deaths and serious injuries – accidents are avoidable and do not need to happen." Dr James Broun, research manager at RoSPA and author of 'Safer Lives, Stronger Nation,' said: "Our major review of all accident data uncovers the full scale and true cost of accidents for the very first time. "This data is unique; it looks at all types of accidents across the UK, as well as individually across all four nations.
"Accidents aren’t currently monitored or recorded to the same extent as other health issues, but the findings are alarming. "We’ve brought together this data to reveal the reality of this crisis and to impress upon the Government that action must be taken to reverse rising accident figures.".
