Construction vehicles and road safety: progress, but not enough
The latest STATS19 road collision data shows that while overall casualties involving construction-related vehicles have fallen slightly over the past five years, fatal and serious injuries among vulnerable road users (VRU) remain unacceptably high.
In 2024, collisions involving HGVs and LGVs resulted in:
• 4,785 pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists killed or injured
• 1,524 serious injuries
• 179 fatalities
Despite a 9% reduction in total casualties since 2019, the most severe outcomes have remained stubbornly consistent. Over the past five years, 892 people have lost their lives in collisions involving goods vehicles commonly used in construction which is the equivalent of nearly one death every working day.
HGVs account for just 1.3% of licensed vehicles on UK roads, yet they are involved in 9.7% of all vulnerable road user fatalities. When LGVs are included, goods vehicles linked to construction activity are associated with more than one in five VRU deaths nationwide, a level of risk that remains deeply disproportionate.
While casualty numbers are down from a peak of over 5,500 in 2018, the pace of improvement is far too slow.
Recent calls from organisations such as the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) have reinforced the need for employers to take stronger action on road risk, particularly where work activity contributes to danger on public roads.
In construction, this risk is especially acute. CLOCS provides a practical, industry-led framework that enables clients, contractors and fleet operators to turn that commitment into measurable action by raising standards, improving vehicle safety and protecting vulnerable road users.
Andy Brooke, CLOCS Programme Director, said: “Any reduction in casualties matters, but progress has clearly stalled when it comes to the most serious outcomes. Construction vehicles continue to be over-represented in fatal collisions, and that demands a stronger response.
Driver distraction and misjudgement remain major factors, but safety is a shared responsibility. The industry must continue to raise standards, alongside improving awareness and understanding of risk on our roads.”
CLOCS is calling on more organisations to take responsibility for improving construction logistics safety.
“We’re seeing real leadership from parts of the industry, and with planning authorities and clients increasingly demanding CLOCS compliance, momentum is building,” Brooke added. “But change isn’t happening fast enough. Every organisation involved in construction logistics has a role to play in preventing these tragedies.”
Founded in 2012, CLOCS (Construction Logistics and Community Safety) is the National Standard for ensuring the safest construction vehicle journeys, reducing risk to vulnerable road users, improving air quality and congestion, and driving operational efficiencies.
It brings regulators, clients, contractors and fleet operators together to work collaboratively to maximise the many commercial and social benefits associated with safer, leaner and greener construction logistics.
To find out more and join the CLOCS community, visit www.clocs.org.uk