Britain's roads are the safest, says international survey

Date: 17/9/2010

Drivers in Britain are the safest, according to a study of road deaths in 33 countries.

The results of the International Transport Forum assessment revealed that the last ten years has been "a record decade for road safety".

According to the Paris-based Road Safety Association, there has been a huge fall in road deaths since the start of the century in 30 of the countries surveyed.

In terms of fatalities per 100,000 people, Britain's figure in 2009 was the lowest at 3.8, while Malaysia had the highest figure of 23.8.

"Reducing fatalities around the world will be accelerated by rapid and effective transfer of knowledge, good practice and information from the best-performing countries," commented International Transport Forum Secretary-General Jack Short.

The importance of safe driving should be taught to young people, one industry expert advised this week.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of road safety charity Brake said in an article for the Guardian that a disproportionately high number of accidents involve young drivers.

Posted by Mary Treen