MORE people were injured on the city’s roads last year, new figures show, but casualty numbers remain lower than before the pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic saw road casualties drop across the country as drivers stayed at home during lockdowns, but charities have warned the Government must do more to tackle an uptick in injuries from traffic accidents.

Provisional figures from the Department for Transport suggest there were 715 road casualties in Brighton and Hove in 2021 – a rise from 642 the year before, but fewer than the 805 in 2019.

However, fewer people were killed on the city’s roads last year – one person died, while three were killed in 2020.

Meanwhile, 169 serious injuries were recorded – an increase from the year before, when 150 people were badly hurt. 

Last week, tens of thousands of children marched for safe streets in the UK in a campaign organised by Brake, a road safety charity.

National figures show 2,261 children were injured and 33 killed on Britain's streets last year.

Scott Williams, head of programme delivery at Brake, said every child should have the right to walk in their neighbourhood without fear of traffic or pollution. 

"It is vital that children can walk safely in the places where they live." he added.

Overall, across Great Britain, there were 127,967 road casualties in 2021 – an 11 per cent rise from the year before – while 1,560 people were killed.

Of those who died, 686 were car users, but 363 pedestrians and 299 motorcyclists were also killed.

The number of pedal cyclists who lost their lives dropped by 20 per cent from 141 in 2020 to 113 last year. 

Commenting on the Department for Transport's figures, Mark Turner, chief executive of the Road Victims Trust, said: "It remains a terrible fact that four people will be killed on the roads of the UK each day, with many more suffering life-changing injuries. 

"The devastation and trauma caused by these collisions are immense and it is disturbing to see a climb in the numbers of people affected."

The RAC said the Government must do more to improve road safety.

The organisation's head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said: “RAC research suggests there is a huge level of concern among drivers about the standard of driving on our roads, so we urge the Government to consider reintroducing road safety targets.

“They should also look at whether the long-term decline in full-time road traffic police officers has led to a worsening in driver behaviour."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “While there has been a decline in road casualties in recent years, any fatality on our roads is a tragedy and our sympathies remain with anyone who has lost a loved one.

“Road safety is a top priority we are committed to improving through education and updates to the Highway Code that will help protect vulnerable road users, alongside our highly successful THINK! Campaign.”

Sussex Police were contacted for comment.