New government data, released by the Department for Transport on Thursday, shows the number of fatal collisions on the Isle of Wight nearly doubled between 2013 and 2022, rising from four to seven. 

Meanwhile, there has been no let-up in the overall number of fatal or serious collisions, with 103 in 2013 compared to 101 in 2022, according to the figures.

The lowest number of incidents, excluding the Covid-19 lockdown years, was 91, in 2014. 

The information has been published just weeks after the lack of specialist police officers available to deal with the Isle of Wight's serious accidents was put under the spotlight, at an inquest. 

A recent hearing heard 11 road traffic deaths occurred in the 12-months from December 2021, described by coroner, Caroline Sumeray, as a 'massive rise'.

Mrs Sumeray stressed it was a far cry from the average two-to-three deaths per year,  recorded during her previous nine years as the Island's coroner.

"I'm deeply concerned," she said.

"Tragically, a number of collisions I've seen as cases, over the past two years, involve motorcycles — and young people."

Sergeant Neil Corby, who runs the Island's new-look Roads Policing Unit (RPU), told the inquest it was fortunate many of those involved in serious crashes had survived them.

"I've never been so busy. I oversee cases with life-changing injuries involving those who, often through luck, are still with us," he said.

"We're looking at hundreds of cases per year."

The coroner added there were too few roads policing officers officers to deal with the incidents, and she linked the disparity to the disbanding of the Island's dedicated RPU, due to cutbacks, in 2016.

The unit used to comprise eight PCs and a sergeant. Currently, there are two officers.

When asked by the coroner if that was enough, Sgt Corby was frank in his response — "Nowhere near."

The coroner, Island MP Bob Seely and the Hampshire and IW Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, successfully lobbied for the Island's RPU team, and they are now part of a team of firearms officers who double up for serious crashes.

They arrived last November, providing a much-needed boost to ongoing road traffic operations, such as Operation Whitewash. 

Mr Seely said having successfully gained back two officers, the next step would be to for them to meet with bikers and young drivers 'to get the message out.'

He told the County Press: “We know the Island's roads are sadly some of the most dangerous in the UK outside London." 

"We now have an RPU core back on the Island. The situation is significantly improved."