Pedestrian death rate nearly doubles, report shows

The number of pedestrians killed annually on roads across the West Midlands has nearly doubled in the last four years, new data has revealed.

Figures set to be presented to the West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) transport delivery overview and scrutiny committee analysed the overall number of people killed or seriously injured (KSIs) on roads in the region.

"It is concerning that the proportion of pedestrian fatalities has increased since 2022 from 28.5% to 48% in 2025," the report said.

Transport bosses announced plans to carry out a study to look at causes and tackle prevention measures.

Last year, the overall number of KSIs on the region's roads was 1,078 compared with 1,157 recorded in 2024.

However, the number of deaths in 2025 stood at 50, one more than the previous year, although less than the 57 recorded in 2023 and 62 in 2022.

Of those 50 deaths in 2025, 24 were pedestrians, three more than in 2024. This represents a 48% proportion of annual road deaths being pedestrians, compared with 43% in 2024 and 28.5% in 2022.

The other deaths involved 13 drivers, three passengers, eight motorcyclists and two cyclists.

Birmingham recorded almost half the KSIs across the region with 500 recorded in 2025, although this is a reduction from 556 the year before.

Dudley suffered 85 KSIs in 2025, compared with 121 in the year before, whilst Sandwell's number dropped from 156 in 2024 to 124 last year.

Coventry experienced 105 KSIs last year compared with 82 in 2024, Solihull increased from 68 to 70, Walsall went up to 80 from 72 whilst Wolverhampton went from 79 in 2024 to 83 the following year.

KSIs on motorways also increased with 28 recorded in 2025 compared with 23 the year before.

The report will also examine safety concerns such as shortages in safe crossing facilities and the way pedestrians tend to choose to go not align with existing infrastructure.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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