The latest Department for Transport road casualty statistics show a welcomed decrease in casualties for vulnerable road users, but the government must ‘ram home the message that drink driving kills’ after an increase in the number of deaths as a result of alcohol-related road accidents.There were 1,680 people killed in the year ending March 2013, a ten per cent reduction from 1,870 in the year ending March 2012. The number of people killed or seriously injured also fell to 23,660, a six per cent decrease. Pedal cyclist casualties are down 23 per cent on the previous year as well as motorcyclist casualties down 27 per cent. Although the notably colder winter temperatures in Q1 2013 are like to have had an effect on these reductions. IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “It would seem to be good news with continued sustained falls in car occupant casualties and falls in all vulnerable categories for example pedestrians, bikers and cyclists.“It is clear that the continued economic downturn (with falling traffic levels) and poor weather are the main causes.  The economy is showing signs of improvement and we are having a fantastic summer so we cannot be complacent.“The IAM welcomes this good news for the start of 2013 but the real test will come when we see what happened over the spring and summer when cycling in particular will have been much more popular.”The number of people who were ‘slightly injured’ also fell this year by seven per cent from 178,019 to 165,230.Shockingly, the provisional estimates for the number of drink drive fatalities shows an increase to 290 last year from 230 in 2011 – which was the lowest since reporting on such accidents began in 1979.Mr Greig added: “The number of people killed or seriously injured by drink drivers is the real indicator of success in dealing with those who present the biggest danger on our roads. The IAM is concerned that despite continued police campaigns the message does not seem to be getting through to a minority of drivers.“This increase shows the critical need for the Department for Transport to reverse cuts in publicity funding and continue to ram home the message that drink driving kills.”Since 1979, there has been a six-fold reduction in the number of alcohol-related road accidents and fatalities.

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