An MP says more needs to be done to reduce the number of road accident victims.
It comes as the cost of each casualty has been calculated at £1.7 million.
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman challenged the government over “complacency” in trying to reduce people getting killed or seriously injured on the roads.
In the House of Commons, the Labour veteran asked Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Robert Goodwill: “What estimate his Department has made of the number of people who will be killed or injured in road traffic collisions in the UK between 2014 and 2030; and if he will estimate the economic value of preventing such casualties.”
He added: “Are we not in danger of becoming complacent? From now until 2030, it is likely that a third of a million people will be killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads.
“The cost to families, to communities and to the national health service is going to be dreadful. Should we not act now to improve our performance?
The minister said the UK ‘leads in road safety’ adding: “Road casualties have followed a declining trend over recent decades.
“With unprecedented investment in roads and continued improvements in vehicle technology, there are signs that this trend will continue.
“The economic cost of each casualty has been calculated at £1.7 million.”
Afterwards, Mr Sheerman told the Examiner: “The government says it doesn’t want target after target, but we need a target to make us do everything we can to reduce the of casualties.
“Instead of looking for short-term savings, lets look at the end cost, it has a long-term impact on the NHS and the cost of that could involve rehabilitation which is high, so why not do all we can to reduce it?”
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