Fuel Card New Motoring Updates: Road safety deteriorates for first time in 17 years

Government statistics released last week show the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads has gone up for the first time in 17 years.

Road deaths went up by three percent and serious injuries increased by two percent in 2011, meaning 51 more deaths and 462 more serious injuries compared to 2010. 

Last year the Government launched a strategic framework for road safety which was criticised by road safety charity Brake. It said the plan lacked ambition and decisive action on key issues and now Brake is calling for the Government to reprioritise road casualty reduction.

Julie Townsend, Brake Deputy Chief Executive, said: "It is unacceptable and shameful that after years of progress in road safety and consistent casualty reductions, we are now seeing an increase in people dying and being maimed on our roads. These violent deaths and injuries cause unimaginable suffering, they are a costly drain on health and emergency services, and yet they are preventable.

To improve road safety, Brake has called for a number of new implementations including widespread 20mph limits, graduating driving licenses for young, inexperienced motorists as well as lowering the drink drive limit.

In other news, a freak hailstorm that lasted just a few minutes in Leicestershire last week caused such damage that a number of cars are going to have to be written off.

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