Detailed road casualty figures published today (September 25) demonstrate that speeding is a serious problem on Britain's roads, particularly among young men, says the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents RoSPA.

Speed-related factors were reported in relation to 211 deaths of 16-25-year-old men on Britain's roads in 2008 - accounting for 41% of road fatalities in this group.

Across all road users, speed-related factors were cited in relation to 586 road deaths - accounting for 25% of fatalities on Britain's roads.

The Department for Transport's report into the contributory factors to road accidents in Britain in 2008 also shows that continuing efforts to encourage drivers and riders to undergo refresher training are needed, say RoSPA.

Four of the five most frequently-reported contributory factors were a driver or rider error or reaction.

However, overall, the number of people killed on Britain's roads reached a record low in 2008.
A total of 2,538 lives were lost - down from 2,946 in 2007. There were 26,034 serious injuries and 202,333 slight injuries.

The AA said it was delighted to see the decline in reported road death figures released today (September 25), and Britain's return to joint top of the international road safety league table.

However, AA president Edmund King, said: "The death figures continue to show high levels relating to drink driving, motorcycling, young drivers and distraction.”