Road casualties fell to their lowest on record in 2025, with 19 people killed and 216 killed or seriously injured.
This is the lowest number since the rise of the motor car and a key milestone in Oxfordshire County Council’s Vision Zero programme, which aims to reduce people killed and seriously injured on Oxfordshire roads by half by 2030.
Robin Tucker, co-chair of the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (CoHSAT), said: “It’s clear that Oxfordshire’s 20mph zones are now saving dozens of serious injuries a year.
“These figures shows progress which is really measured in the lives that are still with us and the lives that are not disrupted by crashes.
“In particular it shows that if you adopt a policy with known safety benefits like 20mph or Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and follow it through, it saves people from harm and shows through in the results.”
No people cycling, and no bus, van or heavy good vehicle occupants were killed on Oxfordshire’s roads in 2025.
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Tragically, on Wednesday, a 65-year-old cyclist died on Donnington Bridge Road having been involved in a crash with a car.
Figures in areas with 20mph and 30mph limits dropped by 39 per cent between 2022 and 2025, falling from 144 to 88.
Reductions were also seen on roads with higher speed limits, although 2024 was a high-casualty year for 40–60mph and 70mph routes.
Hannah Kirby, co-chair of CoHSAT, said: “There is a strange blind spot in society, which academics have identified and called motonormativity, where they ignore the harm done by cars.”
Despite the overall decline, pedestrian fatalities remain a concern.
No pedestrians were killed in Oxford in 2025, but five died elsewhere in the county.
Sushila Dhall, chair of the Oxford Pedestrians Association, said: “We welcome the news that no pedestrians have been killed in Oxford simply for walking, but we are sorry to hear that being a pedestrian led to the deaths of five people in Oxfordshire towns.
“Lowering motor traffic speeds means people are alive today who would not be if driving speeds were faster.
“These statistics support our case for wider 20mph limits throughout Oxford as soon as possible.”
The county council’s Vision Zero programme aims to halve the number of people killed or seriously injured on Oxfordshire roads by 2030.
Campaigners say the progress shows the value of sustained road safety measures.
CoHSAT and its 25 member groups continue to call for further action, noting that 88 per cent of road deaths involved cars or vans.
Most involved poor driver behaviour, excessive speed, distraction, impairment, or a combination of these factors.
Campaigners are urging greater collaboration between Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Police, and other partners to reach the Vision Zero target.
