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Road traffic collision data

We receive personal injury collision information from Devon and Cornwall Police. This data is checked and validated, and then used by the Traffic Management Team to investigate collisions and implement a road safety strategy/engineering programme. The data remains the property of the Police and does not include collisions where there is damage only, (no personal injury) or collisions on private roads or car parks.

Collisions that occur on the A38 and are located within the Plymouth city boundary will appear within our collision data.

Collision and casualty categories

Data will refer to either the number of collisions or the number of casualties: one collision may result in several casualties. Therefore, the number of casualties in any year is always greater than the number of collisions.

The casualties/injuries are categorised by severity*:

  • Fatal - injury resulting in the death of a casualty within 30 days of the collision;
  • Serious - injury including fractures, internal injuries, concussions, severe shocks, severe cuts, detention in hospital;
  • Slight - injury including sprains, whiplash, bruises, and slight cuts.

*Collisions are categorised by the most severe casualty category.  So if, for example, a collision results in 3 casualties – one fatal, one serious and one slight – the collision is categorised as a fatal collision.

Vision Zero South West Partnership

Plymouth City Council is a member of Vision Zero South West (VZSW), a road safety partnership working to stop all fatal and serious collisions in Devon and Cornwall by 2040.

Through its work, VZSW prioritises road user groups that are the most at risks of being involved in a road traffic collision. These groups include vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) as well as younger drivers (17-24), older drivers (70+) and business drivers.

The interim goal of the partnership is to reduce the number casualties killed and seriously injured by 50% by 2030. Activities delivered by the various members involve education, training, publicity and enforcement.

Road casualty summary


Further information

Accessing specific data

You can request additional data for sites located on our network by contacting the Traffic Management Team, TrafficManagementInbox@plymouth.gov.uk.

Road traffic data

Plymouth City Council hold data records for Traffic Speed and Volume on some roads within the city. This data is commercially available and the charge for a copy of a basic traffic survey will be in the region of £120 + VAT (£144 inc.VAT). Please email TrafficManagementInbox@plymouth.gov.uk to discuss data availability and fees.

Road traffic collision data

There are three types of data and outputs you can request and the associated fees:

  • A standard PDF map plot and report - Standard charge £195+VAT (£234 inc. VAT)

These are two separate PDF documents. One is a mapped plot showing the collisions located within the area requested. The other is a report listing details about each of the collisions in the area highlighted. Extensive areas are subject to an additional charge of £45+VAT (£54 inc. VAT) per hour. You will be advised in advance if this applies.

  • An Excel output (Optional Extra) - £50+VAT (£60 inc. VAT) in addition to the standard charge.

A copy of the PDF report is exported as an Excel spreadsheet. It includes 3 tabs of data covering the collisions’ circumstances as well as the data related to the vehicle(s) and casualty(ies) involved.

  • A list of contributory factors (Optional Extra) - £50+VAT (£60 inc. VAT) in addition to the standard charge.

The list includes all the contributory factors assigned to each of the collisions located in the area requested and a count of how many times these factors were recorded across all the collisions. Note that this data is based on Police Officers’ opinions and is therefore subjective.