Road deaths fall 12 per cent in year to a new low

The number of deaths on Britain's roads fell by 12 per cent last year to a record low, according to government figures. A total of 2,222 people were killed in 2009, while child deaths dropped sharply from 124 to 81. Total casualties, including slight injuries, reached just over 222,000 – 4 per cent down on the 2008 total.

Neil Greig, policy and research director of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "More people are now driving safer cars with airbags and better crash protection. But there now needs to be continued investment in roads to ensure we keep seeing a fall in road accidents."