FLEETS have been issued with a six-point action plan to help them reduce road casualties.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said it had issued the plan as Government figures showed the highest number of road deaths for six years.

Deaths rose from 3,431 in 2002 to 3,508 last year, an increase of 2%.

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA head of road safety, said: 'The figures are very disappointing and of considerable concern.

'It is the first time deaths have risen above 3,500 since 1997.

'The good news is that child and pedestrian casualties are down, but there is clearly a serious problem with motorcyclists. And it is worrying that deaths in cars have gone up, despite improvements in design.'

RoSPA action plan

  • Measures to ensure motorcyclists get enough training and that they build up experience on smaller machines
  • The drink-drive limit to be lowered
  • Motorists to be encouraged to take regular refresher training
  • Employers and the Health and Safety Executive to do more to manage the risks faced and created by employees on the road – between 800 and 1,000 road deaths a year are work-related
  • A switch in the system of changing clocks in spring and autumn to give lighter evenings all year round
  • Higher-profile police presence to act as a deterrent to bad drivers

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