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Around seven people a day are killed on the UK's roads in vehicle accidents and, although 2008 was the lowest year for deaths in road traffic accidents since records began, there was a slight increase in child fatalities at 124, representing an increase of 2%.
There were a total of 230,905 reported casualties of all severities, 7 per cent lower than in 2007. 2,538 people were killed, 14 per cent lower than in 2007, 26,034 were seriously injured (down 6 per cent) and 202,333 were slightly injured (down 7 per cent).
The number of fatalities fell for almost all types of road user, with a fall of 12 per cent for car occupants, 11 per cent for pedestrians, 16 per cent for motorcyclists and 15 per cent for pedal cyclists.
But new research shows the UK is lagging behind many European countries in reducing deaths and injuries from car crashes.
The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) says Norway has cut its death rate from 2007 by 29%, Sweden by 24% and Italy by 22%. The countries below the UK in the table are Austria and Belgium, both on 3% and France whose figures for fatal vehicle accidents are up by 1%.
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