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| UK road deaths reach record low | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The number of people killed on UK roads has reached a record low, according to government statistics. | The number of people killed on UK roads has reached a record low, according to government statistics. |
| There were 2,538 people killed on Britain's roads in 2008, which is the lowest annual total since records began in 1926. | There were 2,538 people killed on Britain's roads in 2008, which is the lowest annual total since records began in 1926. |
| That is 14% down on the 2007 figure. The highest recorded post-war annual total was nearly 8,000 in 1966. | That is 14% down on the 2007 figure. The highest recorded post-war annual total was nearly 8,000 in 1966. |
| The drop came despite half of Britain's A-roads failing to be rated as safe in a European survey. | The drop came despite half of Britain's A-roads failing to be rated as safe in a European survey. |
| European road assessment programme experts found 58% of A-roads it assessed were either neutral for safety or poor. | European road assessment programme experts found 58% of A-roads it assessed were either neutral for safety or poor. |
| Department for Transport statistics, based on casualties in accidents reported to police, showed that 28,567 people were killed or seriously injured last year. | Department for Transport statistics, based on casualties in accidents reported to police, showed that 28,567 people were killed or seriously injured last year. |
| This was 7% fewer than in 2007. | This was 7% fewer than in 2007. |
| 'Encouraging' | |
| It means the government has hit its target of reducing by 40% the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads by 2010, compared with the mid-1990s average. | |
| Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said: "Every death on the roads is a terrible tragedy, but these figures show that every day last year one less person died on the roads than in 2007 and that Britain now jointly has the safest roads of any major nation in the world. | |
| "While this news is encouraging, seven people are still dying on the roads every day and we will continue to do everything we can to prevent these tragedies." | |
| Statistics show the total number of casualties, which includes deaths and both serious and slight injuries, stood at just under 231,000 in 2008 - also 7% down on the previous year. |