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| Road casualty figures falling | Road casualty figures falling |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Road casualties in Britain showed a slight fall last year, figures show. | Road casualties in Britain showed a slight fall last year, figures show. |
| Deaths fell to 3,201 in 2005, a drop of 1%, while serious injuries were 7% lower at 29,000. | Deaths fell to 3,201 in 2005, a drop of 1%, while serious injuries were 7% lower at 29,000. |
| The Department for Transport released contributory factors for the first time, showing drivers' failure to look properly featured in 32% of accidents. | The Department for Transport released contributory factors for the first time, showing drivers' failure to look properly featured in 32% of accidents. |
| But in fatal crashes, loss of control was most common, with 35%, and excessive speed was reported in 15% of all accidents and 26% of fatal crashes. | But in fatal crashes, loss of control was most common, with 35%, and excessive speed was reported in 15% of all accidents and 26% of fatal crashes. |
| Although the figures for deaths and serious injuries showed a slight fall, the Statistics Commission is concerned police figures, on which government statistics are based, tend to be lower than hospital figures. | Although the figures for deaths and serious injuries showed a slight fall, the Statistics Commission is concerned police figures, on which government statistics are based, tend to be lower than hospital figures. |
| If these hospital figures were used, targets would not be met, the commission said. The commission has written to the DfT to express its concern. | If these hospital figures were used, targets would not be met, the commission said. The commission has written to the DfT to express its concern. |
| The DfT said it was aware of "under-reporting" and that further research will be done. It said it has already produced two reports on the subject. | The DfT said it was aware of "under-reporting" and that further research will be done. It said it has already produced two reports on the subject. |
| A spokesman added: "We have always used police figures and they do provide a straight year-on-year comparison." | A spokesman added: "We have always used police figures and they do provide a straight year-on-year comparison." |
| There was also a fall in the number of drink-drive deaths, with 560 in 2005, a drop of 3%, while total casualties in drink-drive accidents fell by 9%. The figures were based on provisional estimates. | There was also a fall in the number of drink-drive deaths, with 560 in 2005, a drop of 3%, while total casualties in drink-drive accidents fell by 9%. The figures were based on provisional estimates. |
| The government has a target to reduce death and serious injury figures by 40% by the year 2010, compared with the average figures between 1994-1998. While there has been a major drop in serious injuries, deaths have remained relatively static. | The government has a target to reduce death and serious injury figures by 40% by the year 2010, compared with the average figures between 1994-1998. While there has been a major drop in serious injuries, deaths have remained relatively static. |
| Safe Speed has been pointing out for years that the concentration on speeding was a deadly mistake - speed cameras must be scrapped, heads must roll Paul SmithFounder | |
| Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA Motoring Trust, said improved car-occupant protection and road design were a major factor in the fall in deaths and serious injuries. | Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA Motoring Trust, said improved car-occupant protection and road design were a major factor in the fall in deaths and serious injuries. |
| The use of contributory factors from police officers' accident reports for the first time have been hailed by campaigners against current policies on speeding. | The use of contributory factors from police officers' accident reports for the first time have been hailed by campaigners against current policies on speeding. |
| Safe Speed said the suggestion that speeding or excessive speed for the conditions was a factor in only 15% of accidents showed the "entire road safety policy has been based on dodgy data". | Safe Speed said the suggestion that speeding or excessive speed for the conditions was a factor in only 15% of accidents showed the "entire road safety policy has been based on dodgy data". |
| Founder Paul Smith added: "Safe Speed has been pointing out for years that the concentration on speeding was a deadly mistake. Speed cameras must be scrapped. Heads must roll." | Founder Paul Smith added: "Safe Speed has been pointing out for years that the concentration on speeding was a deadly mistake. Speed cameras must be scrapped. Heads must roll." |
| Male speeding | |
| But Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, disagreed, saying the report showed a need to re-emphasise the overall campaign against speed. | But Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, disagreed, saying the report showed a need to re-emphasise the overall campaign against speed. |
| The contributory factors suggested eight times more male than female drivers in road accidents were speeding. Older drivers were less likely to speed. | The contributory factors suggested eight times more male than female drivers in road accidents were speeding. Older drivers were less likely to speed. |
| While "impairment or distraction" was reported in 12% of all accidents, and 19% of fatal accidents, a factor like use of a mobile phone did not even feature in 1% of accidents. | While "impairment or distraction" was reported in 12% of all accidents, and 19% of fatal accidents, a factor like use of a mobile phone did not even feature in 1% of accidents. |
| Of the six most stated factors, five were some form of mistake by the motorist. | Of the six most stated factors, five were some form of mistake by the motorist. |
| The DfT emphasised that contributory factors were based on the reporting officers initial assessment and were not subjected to a strong standard of proof. | The DfT emphasised that contributory factors were based on the reporting officers initial assessment and were not subjected to a strong standard of proof. |