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25/06/2010
The number of road deaths recorded on British roads fell to a record low last year, according to the latest Government figures.
Released by the Department for Transport (DfT), the figures show that 2,222 people died in accidents last year - a drop of 12% from the 2,538 deaths reported in 2008. This represents the lowest annual total since records began in 1926, and a vast reduction on the post-war high of almost 8,000 recorded in 1966.
Child deaths saw a particularly marked reduction - falling from 124 in 2008, to 81 last year.
Meanwhile, there were 26,096 people killed or seriously injured (KSI), representing a fall of 6% over the previous year, and around 222,000 road casualties - around 4% fewer than 2008.
According to road safety charity Brake, these figures show that the Government has achieved its long-term aims of cutting KSI statistics.
Set out in 2000's Tomorrow's roads: safer for everyone document, the Government aimed to cut KSIs by 40%, based on the average for the period of 1994-98. The new figures show that these have been cut by 44%.
However, the charity is highlighting that a similar target of 40% set for deaths alone would not have been achieved - pointing out that the 2,222 deaths represents a 38% reduction on the baseline 1994-98 average. It also says that the real KSI figures could be somewhat higher than those used in the 2009 report, blaming "significant under-reporting" when comparing casualty statistics to hospital data - something which it says the DfT acknowledges.
Campaigns officer Ellen Booth said: "Every death is a tragedy so this is no time for congratulations.
"We want to challenge the new Government to seize every opportunity to protect road users, starting with setting new, challenging targets.
"We also need a bold strategy that spells out the importance of investing in road safety, despite Government cuts."
Speaking yesterday before the statistics were released, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) warned against Government funding cuts falling on road safety budgets. The group said that, with the cost to society of each road death standing at £1.68 million - due to pressure on NHS resources and lost working days - maintaining road safety spending would ultimately save money.
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