THE number of people seriously injured or killed in road accidents has dropped dramatically over the last four years.

The Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia has revealed a 68 per cent drop in collisions resulting in death or serious injury at sites where it has speed cameras, compared with a 26 per cent reduction for the whole West Mercia area, which includes Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

Speaking at the group's annual review at Worcester Rugby Club, the partnership's manager Trevor McAvoy said the number of minor injury collisions at its camera sites had also dropped by 30 per cent, compared with a 13 per cent reduction across West Mercia.

He said the number of vehicles exceeding speed limits at SRP sites had fallen from 58 per cent to 33 per cent.

Meanwhile drivers caught speeding on 30mph roads have dropped from 65 per cent four years ago to 34 per cent.

"We have also seen a reduction in collisions across the whole network which is very welcome and needs to be applauded," he said.

"We have a continuing downward trend in the number of cases being committed and detected."

Mr McAvoy highlighted improvements at SRP sites with vehicle activated signs, which flash up the speed limit as drivers approach.

He said since a speed camera had been installed in New Road, Worcester in March 2004, the number of speeding motorists had halved, dropping by another 50 per cent when a vehicle activated sign was installed four months later.

Mr McAvoy said public opinion surveys revealed 75 per cent of those asked backed the use of speed cameras to reduce casualty numbers.

He said the cost of running the SRP had dropped from just over £2.4 in £2005/2006 to £2.2m in 2006/2007.

The partnership is made up of 11 partners, including the local authorities, the Highways Agency and West Mercia Constabulary.

It was previously called the Safety Camera Partnership, until April 2007.