FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 11815

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 9^th May 2019. Please find below the response to your request:

1. How many road fatalities did police forensic collision investigators (or an equivalent position) from your police force investigate in 2018, 2017 and 2016?

2. Of the fatalities investigated, how many were wearing a seat belt? How many were not wearing a seat belt? In how many cases was seat belt status not known?

Reply:-

1.         2016 - 47

            2017 - 67

            2018 - 56

It should be noted that although at least one death was involved these may not all have been recorded as fatal for the purposes of the Department of Transport, Government statistics.  For example where the collision occurred on private land, was an industrial injury, or a pre-existing medical condition was deemed to be the cause.

2. The below table indicates the number of road deaths in West Mercia for the period 2016 - 2018 and the status of seat belt usage in respect of all those reported deaths.