Provisional estimates from the Department for Transport (DfT) reveal that road deaths are down by two percent to the year ending June 2015 compared with the same period the previous year.

Latest figures show that 1,700 people were killed on UK roads in the year ending June 2015 – a fall of 60 - but the DfT has warned that the fall may be ‘natural variation’ rather than a real decrease.

When serious injuries are added to the fatalities 22,830 were affected between June 2014 and June 2015 and there were 180,500 causalities of all severities.

Helen Williams, a senior road accident solicitor based in Thompsons Solicitors’ Bristol office, said: “Let’s hope that the drop in numbers is the start of a trend, it would be hugely welcome news if it is. But before we celebrate too much the numbers killed or seriously injured on our roads in total is still horrific and every one will have devastated not just the lives of the person involved but that of their families and friends too.

“The government must not use the possible drop in numbers as an excuse not to invest properly in road safety improvements, education for young drivers and better road infrastructure. Only by doing so will we see a genuine long term reduction in road traffic accidents, serious injuries and tragic deaths on our roads.”