Record low for road deaths

25 June 2009

Lowest since records began in 1926
Road deaths down by 14%
On same day as roads labelled unsafe

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Deaths on UK roads have hit a record low, according to Government figures.

In 2008, there were 2538 fatal accidents on Britain's roads, which is the lowest annual number since records began in 1926.

The figure shows a reduction of 14% compared with 2007, but comes on the same day as a report revealed over half of the UK's A-roads failed to be classified as safe.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said: 'Every death on the roads is a terrible tragedy, but these figures show that every day last year one less person died on the roads than in 2007 and that Britain now jointly has the safest roads of any major nation in the world.

'While this news is encouraging, seven people are still dying on the roads every day and we will continue to do everything we can to prevent these tragedies.'

The total number of road casualties for 2008, which includes all injuries and deaths, was down 7% on the previous year.