Decline in road fatalities 'evidence of government action'

Date: 27/9/2010

Consistent government action has played a key role in reducing the number of fatalities on Britain's roads, one expert has stated.

Robert Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, was commenting on recently-released figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) that showed the total number of road fatalities fell by 12 per cent between 2008 and 2009.

Mr Gifford praised the state for enforcing traffic law and supporting improvements in vehicle design in order to achieve the results.

However, he highlighted the importance of continuing this good work.

"As we come to the end of the current road safety strategy, it is vital that the government draws up plans for a new framework and performance outcome for road safety," Mr Gifford remarked.

This is a crucial concern for local communities, he added.

The DfT statistics also revealed the total number of road casualties decreased by four per cent, while the provisional number of people killed or seriously injured in drink-driving incidents fell by eight per cent.

Posted by Sarah Bailey