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KSI targets - majority on track

DfT statistics show that most authorities are heading in the right direction towards the government's national target to reduce fatal and serious road accidents - but many are struggling to tackle speeding and poor driver awareness (Surveyor, 7 April).

KSI statistics for 2003 revealed that 23 county and unitary councils were already achieving the 2010 target of a 40 per cent reduction compared with the 1994-98 baseline. Topping the league, with reductions of more than 50 per cent, were Coventry, Solihull, Warrington, Blackburn with Darwen, and Blackpool.

Of the rest, the vast majority saw some reduction in serious casualties in 2003, but there were increases in 18 areas - and 10 authorities experienced increases of 10 per cent or more. Avon had a cluster of poor results, with KSIs up by between 10 and 13 per cent in Bristol, Bath and northeast and north Somerset. But Bristol, with a 12 per cent increase, showed a marked improvement on 2002, when serious casualties were up 37 per cent on the baseline.

Cleveland also emerged as a problem area, with increases of 21 per cent in Hartlepool, 23 per cent in Stockton on Tees, 24 per cent in Redcar and Cleveland and 30 per cent in Middlesbrough - all considerably worse than 2002.

In Essex, which had the largest number of KSIs, the county council achieved a modest one per cent decrease and is seeing more severe accidents fuelled by a rise in motorcycling, rural speeding and drink driving.

Dorset improved from a 12 per cent increase in 2002 - partly down to double counting - to a 10 per cent decrease in 2003.