Moderators (requests and notices)

Completely agree regarding the word accidents which is all part of the tolerance we have for people who harm people using cars. Another element of this is referring to people as 'cars' and saying absurd things like 'the car didn't see him'. When we personalise our interactions on roads and make people who use them responsible for their actions the better for all. However I am not sure I agree with marking every fatality with a logo colour change which like ghost bikes focuses on and exaggerates the dangers of cycling and which is almost anti cycling-promotion.

Around 3000 people die on the roads annually in the UK, people using all modes and each death is terrible. The fact the we bike riders are better at forming groups and campaigning and flagging up incidents that happen to fellow riders better than, say people who walk (Yes we all walk) makes it seem to people who don't ride that we are doing something very risky which we are not. (Since per mile travelled you are more likely to come to harm as a pedestrian than as a bike rider)

I agree with David.

Around 3000 people die on the roads annually in the UK, people using all modes
Fortunately, this figure has fallen considerably since the early 2000s when it used to be the case:

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/road-accidents-and-safety-annual-report-2010/rrcgb2010-00.pdf

(2010 is the latest year for which we have complete figures. The 2011 report should be out in a few days.)

You can also look at this report:

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/road-accidents-and-safety-annual-report-2010/rrcgb2010-01.pdf