Boroughs see highest rates of road casualties in 2019

By Jacob Paul

South and west London boroughs saw some of the highest rates of road casualties in 2019, according to data released by Transport for London (TfL).

Westminster was the worst affected borough, with 1,710 casualties on the roads in 2019.

Lambeth followed, with 1,357, while Southwark had 1,273 casualties.

Croydon also had a high number of casualties, 1,127, compared with neighbouring boroughs Sutton (530) and Bromley (883).

The figures come in the week the capital’s transport chiefs unveiled a website revealing where London’s accident hotspots are.

Peter Allingham, who died aged 74 in 2017, came into collision with a lorry when he crossed Peckham High Street after leaving the Kentish Drovers pub, in Peckham.

Peter was well known in Peckham, serving 30 years as barman and assistant secretary of the Peckham Liberal Club.

The inquest into his death took place at Southwark Coroner’s Court on November 1, 2019

His death was exactly two years after Mary O’Leary, 76, was in a collision with a skip lorry in the same section of the High Street.

Mrs O’Leary was from the traveller community in Brideale Close, and was killed instantly on September 4, 2015.

Police analysis of Mrs O’Leary death established that driver Robert Britten could not have avoided hitting Mrs O’Leary as she walked diagonally towards the front of the lorry, as the lights turned green.

Peckham local Jason Bent, 48, was also killed in the same road January 8, 2020.

The father-of-one died at the scene, after a collision with an HGV near the Burger King.

Will Norman, London’ Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “Every death on London’s roads is one too many which is why we are determined to eliminate these tragedies through our Vision Zero action plan.

“The launch of our new online dashboard is key to achieving this goal, as making collision data more accessible is useful not only for TfL and partner organisations, but also the public.

“It also serves as a timely reminder about the importance of driving safely and sticking to speed limits to protect all road users, especially those who are most vulnerable.”

TfL’s Vision Zero Dashboard tool, which allows the public to easily access London’s collision data from 2017-2019 recorded by police, was unveiled to raise awareness of devastating road collisions.

Pictured top: A police officer measures the speed of traffic with a speed gun