Resolution Statement – 03593-25 McKnight v oxfordmail.co.uk

Summary of Complaint

1. Owen McKnight complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that oxfordmail.co.uk breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice in a headline on its homepage, “More than 300 pedestrians killed last year despite 20mph limits”, published on 5 September 2025.

2. The following article was headlined “More than 300 Thames Valley pedestrians involved in crashes”. It reported on Thames Valley police figures for pedestrian injuries in 2024/25, and reported: “In 2024/25, Thames Valley Police recorded 319 pedestrian injuries with four fatalities, 57 serious injuries, and 258 slight injuries”.

3. The article went on to report: “The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety found in April that 20mph limits, particularly those supported by physical measures, consistently reduce traffic collisions and casualties”.

4. The complainant said that the homepage headline was inaccurate in breach of Clause 1 where it reported that “[m]ore than 300 pedestrians” had been killed in the last year. He said this was contradicted by the text of the article, which made clear that Thames Valley Police had reported four pedestrian fatalities in 2024/25.

5. The complainant also said that the homepage headline was misleading where it reported this had occurred “despite 20mph limits”, as he considered that this implied the limits do not save lives – he said the article also acknowledged evidence that 20mph speed limits “consistently reduce traffic collisions and casualties”.

6. The complaint was not resolved through direct correspondence between the parties. IPSO therefore began an investigation into the matter.

7. During IPSO’s investigation, the publication accepted the homepage headline was inaccurate. It said that “killed” was a typo, which should have referred to injuries, and confirmed that it had therefore been amended around 4 hours after publication.

8. The publication did not accept that the “despite 20mph limits” reference was inaccurate. It said that the rollout of 20mph zones across Oxfordshire was relevant and of significant public interest.

Relevant Clause Provisions

Clause 1 (Accuracy)

i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.

ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and — where appropriate — an apology published. In cases involving IPSO, due prominence should be as required by the regulator.

iii) A fair opportunity to reply to significant inaccuracies should be given, when reasonably called for.

iv) The Press, while free to editorialise and campaign, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.

Mediated Outcome

9. During IPSO’s investigation, and having accepted an inaccuracy arose in the homepage headline, the publication offered to print the following correction under the headline of the online article:

“An earlier version of this article included an incorrect headline on our homepage. A typo conflated a reference to more than 300 injuries with fatalities. While this was quickly rectified online, we are keen to set the record straight. As the article clearly confirms, there were 319 pedestrian injuries recorded in the Thames Valley over 2024/25 with four fatalities. We apologise for any confusion caused.”

10. The complainant said that this resolved the matter to his satisfaction.

11. As the complaint was successfully mediated, the Complaints Committee did not make a determination as to whether there had been any breach of the Code.

Date complaint received: 05/09/2025

Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 18/11/2025