Shropshire roads 'safer than the UK average'
The roads of Shropshire are safer than others across the UK, it has been claimed.
A study has revealed that all five of the county's parliamentary constituencies have roads with casualty rates below the national average.
But the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety found it was a different picture over the border in Montgomeryshire, with the rate of deaths and serious injuries eight per cent above the national average – and 36 per cent above average for crashes involving cars.
The study, carried out in partnership with insurance group Direct Line, also found that November was the most dangerous month for pedestrians, with casualty numbers up by 42 per cent compared to August, which was the safest month. November is also the worst month for serious injuries to car drivers and passengers.
The safest constituencies in the county were Ludlow and Shrewsbury and Atcham, which were both found to have an overall casualty rate that was 10 per cent below the national average.
However in Ludlow, the number of car occupants suffering serious injuries was six per cent above average, although the rate among cyclists was 61 per cent below the average.
In Shrewsbury, the casualty rate among cyclists was 12 per cent above average, making it the 27th most dangerous out of the UK's 632 constituencies. However for motorists, pedestrians and motorcyclists it was found to be safer than average.
North Shropshire had the highest overall casualty rate, although it was still one per cent below the national average. Accident rates for pedestrians and cyclists were low, but casualties among motorists and passengers were 18 per cent higher than average.
Casualty rates for car occupants were also above average in both Telford and The Wrekin, although overall rates were below average for both constituencies.
Fridays were the most dangerous days to be out on the roads, with around a quarter of all injuries being caused between 3pm and 6pm.
Nationally, there were 2,135 serious casualties on the country's roads every November, with people aged 16-24 accounting for 24 per cent of the casualties over the course of the month. Pedestrians make up more than a quarter of serious injuries.
Direct Line's Gus Park said: "We hope this analysis will spur the authorities to take action, investing in education campaigns highlighting the challenges of navigating the streets in the autumn and winter."
