Older people are 20% more likely to be killed on the roads in December
Research found over 60s more vulnerable during last month of the year
OAPs are in danger on our roads (
Image: Getty)
Older pedestrians are 20% more likely to be killed on the roads during December than any other month of the year.
Over 60s are more likely to become casualties of road accidents between 5pm and 6pm in the last month of the year, Direct Line and government research found.
On average there are over 16,000 senior pedestrian casualties on UK roads every year with 3,275 of these either killed or seriously injured.
Each year 177,982 pedestrian casualties are recorded on the roads – enough to fill Wembley Stadium twice.
One in every 284 adults will be a pedestrian casualty on the roads each year.
Pensioner out buying birthday gifts disarms knife-wielding junkie robber - then coolly returns to his shopping
Drivers have been urged to slow down (
Getty)
The report says the link between pedestrian casualties and level of wealth is well established with lower accident rates in more prosperous areas with lower populations.
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine in Scotland rank as the parliamentary constituency with the lowest resident casualty rate, which is 59% below the national average.
Rural areas tend to have shown more progress in reducing pedestrian casualties, although not exclusively.
Most progress was made in Cheadle, Cheshire, with a 43% reduction in casualties versus the national average.
Gus Park, director of motor at Direct Line, said: "Pedestrian casualties on the roads remain far too high.
"We need to invest resource in understanding the traffic control measures that can be put in place to help reduce pedestrian casualties.
"There is a clear increase in casualties amongst the older generation in December, so both drivers and pedestrians are urged to use caution on the streets
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