THE number of deaths on roads in the Thames Valley region rose by more than 15 per cent last year.

Figures published by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) showed that there were 173 fatalities on roads in the area in 2000, up by 23 on 1999.

But the number of serious injuries sustained in road-traffic accidents fell as did the total number of casualties.

There were 5.8 per cent fewer serious injuries while the number of casualties fell by 0.6 per cent.

Nationally, there was a two per cent fall in the number of fatal and serious road casualties, while child casualties fell be six per cent.

The number of children killed or seriously injured in 2000 was 5,202, down nine per cent on 1999.

The number of pedestrian casualties also fell, as did the number of cyclists injured, which fell by ten per cent.

The Government is aiming to reduce the numbers of people killed on Britain's roads by 40 per cent by 2010.