Serious road accidents increase

The number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents has increased according to latest Department of Transport figures.

Rochdale was the only borough in Greater Manchester to show an increase in serious or fatal road accidents between 2007 and 2008, with 84 incidents in 2008, compared with 78 the previous year.

Local authorities are being measured against the average number of accidents between 1994-1998. Like most other boroughs in the country, the number of incidents in Rochdale has fallen compared with that figure. The average for the town between 1994 and 1998 was 107, so a 21% reduction has been achieved on last year's figure. However, this is the slowest rate of reduction in Greater Manchester.

The number of child casualties has also gone up, from 7 to 12, although the borough has experienced a 57% fall on the average for 1994-1998.

The number of casualties fell for almost all types of road user compared with the 1994-98 average, with a fall of 38% for car occupants, 42% for pedestrians and 52% for pedal cyclists. However the number of motor cycle accidents has gone up by 37%.

Across the country, by 2010 the Government aim is to achieve, compared with the average for 1994-98, a 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in accidents reported to the police; a 50% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured; and a 10% in the slight casualty rate.