Road deaths down by more than a quarter

THE number of road deaths in the Thames Valley has fallen to its lowest since the Force was formed in 1968.

A total of 57 people died on the Force’s road network in 55 fatal collisions during 2013. This has decreased by more than a quarter from 78 fatal collisions on roads in the Thames Valley in 2012. The number is down from 129 deaths on the road in the Thames Valley in 2004.

There were a total of 17 people killed in collisions in Oxfordshire, 17 in Berkshire and 23 in Buckinghamshire last year.

The Thames Valley Police Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing works to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and crime on our roads. Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, head of Thames Valley Police Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: “There are many factors which may have contributed to the reduction in fatal road traffic collisions.

“Our officers conduct targeted enforcement to both educate and, where appropriate, prosecute offenders. Research shows that through targeting key offences such as speed, mobile phone use, not wearing a seatbelt and drink/drug driving, we can make the roads a safer place for everyone who uses them.

“We also run a number of campaigns such as Bike Safe and Safe Drive Stay Alive which are having an impact together with the work we conduct with our partner agencies.

“Our officers will continue to carry out this work 24/7 to continue to reduce the factors which contribute to collisions. Too many people continue to die on the roads despite every effort, and every one of these figures is a person who has died on the road network and who has not returned home to their loved ones.”