ROAD casualties across Bracknell and Wokingham are at a record low, new figures have revealed.

Data released by the Department for Transport for last year show that nationally the number of fatalities and injuries on the country’s roads are now 20 per cent lower than in 2005.

In Wokingham there was only one fatal crash in 2015, down from 11 in 2005, three in 2014 and one in 2013 while the number of those seriously injured or killed on the borough’s roads last year was 43, down from 48 a decade ago.

In 2014, there were 49 serious incidents, a drop from 53 in 2013.

There were also significantly fewer personal injury casualties (PICs), with 356 recorded last year, down from 360 in 2014 and 526 in 2005.

However although the number of PICs in neighbouring Bracknell Forest has dropped from 360 in 2005 to 295 last year, this was a jump from 256 in 2014 and 278 in 2013.

The total amount of those seriously injured or killed on Bracknell’s roads was 36 in 2015, up from 26 in 2014, 28 in 2013 and 35 in 2005.

The number of fatalities was also up to four last year, compared with just one in 2014 and two in 2013 and on par with four deaths in 2005, marking no improvement.

Regionally, there were only 15 casualties last year, compared to 19 last year and 44 in 2005.

Executive member for planning and transport, Cllr Chris Turrell, said: “All cases of road casualties are a concern to the council and the police. However, it is important to note the significant decline between 2005 and 2015. In Bracknell Forest, KSI injuries fell by four per cent and PIC injuries by 20 per cent.

“It is of concern that the fall in the number of fatalities in Bracknell Forest was not maintained in 2015, whereas the number fell in Berkshire as a whole. It is important to bear in mind that in Bracknell Forest very small numbers are involved: four fatalities in 2005; one in 2014, and four in 2015.

“Notable are the increases in casualties of older road users and cyclists.

“We continue to monitor accident data in an effort to identify ways in which the council can intervene. This usually occurs through targeted casualty reduction schemes which are implemented annually.

“We take accidents very seriously and we are working with the police to understand why there was a spike last year.”