West Mercia road accident figures at all-time low
The number of people killed or seriously injured on roads across West Mercia, including Shropshire, has fallen to an all-time low, figures revealed today.
The number of people killed or seriously injured on roads across West Mercia, including Shropshire, has fallen to an all-time low, figures revealed today.
Last year saw the fewest number of people killed or seriously injured since 1996, when records began.
The figures released by West Mercia Police and the Safer Roads Partnership showed the toll had dropped in both the Shropshire and Telford divisions.
In Shropshire, the number of people killed fell from an average of 27 per year to 20 last year. Serious injuries reduced from 359 per year to 103 last year.
In Telford & Wrekin, the number of fatalities fell from an average of nine per year to two last year, while the number of serious injuries reduced from 136 per year to 35 last year.
The figures for the whole of the West Mercia force area showed 47 people were killed and 330 seriously injured in road crashes last year.
This compares to an average of 97 killed and 1,236 seriously injured per year as a 1994-98 average.
Vicki Bristow, communications manager at the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, said: "It's encouraging that the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads continues to fall.
"This, in part, is testament to the hard work and investment that continues to be undertaken by the partnership.
"However, any number of deaths or injuries on our roads is unacceptable and more must to be done to continue the good work and ensure our roads are safer for all."
Superintendent Matt Mead, of West Mercia Police, said: "These figures are encouraging but there is still more work to be done.
"Road safety will continue to be a priority for West Mercia Police."