Concern as pedestrian death rate nearly doubles

PROPORTION OF FATALITIES HAS RISEN FROM 28.5% TO 48% - REPORT

- BY GURDIP THANDI

NEW statistics show a “concerning” rise in the number of pedestrians killed on roads in the West Midlands.

Provisional data to be presented to the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee shows a reduction in the overall number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on roads in 2025, compared with 2024.

But the number of fatalities involving pedestrians is showing a sharp rise in the past few years.

Transport bosses said they are to carry out a study to look at causes and identify what is lacking such as pedestrian crossings.

The overall number of KSIs in 2025 was 1,078 compared with 1,157 recorded in 2024.

However, the number of deaths in 2025 stood at 50, one more than the previous year, although less than the 57 recorded in 2023 and 62 in 2022.