More people were injured and killed on Wiltshire's roads last year than during the year before, according to new figures from the government.

The number of deaths on Wiltshire's roads was 23 in 2021, while only 19 people were killed on the roads in 2020.  

This follows a wider trend, as in the UK road casualties dropped across Great Britain as drivers stayed at home during lockdowns, but charities have warned the Government must do more tackle an uptick in injuries from traffic accidents. 

Provisional figures from the Department for Transport suggested there were 1,042 road casualties in Wiltshire in 2021 – a rise from 867 the year before, but fewer than the 1,275 in 2019. 

215 serious injuries were also recorded – an increase on the year before, when 150 people were badly hurt. 

Councillor Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport said; “Traffic levels were significantly reduced in 2020 due to the lockdowns, which affected the number of collisions. With more cars back on the roads there was an increase in the number of collisions and casualties in 2021. 

“Statistically the numbers killed on Wiltshire roads are low at an average of 22.4 per year over a ten year period, but specific incidents can influence the numbers significantly from year-to-year. Sadly, we had a couple of collisions in 2021 where more than one person died, including the young people at Perham Down who tragically lost their lives in October.