SAFETY schemes carried out on accident cluster spots in Redditch have proved to be a success in cutting traffic incidents according to new statistics, writes Becky Procter.

The news follows the release of Worcestershire County Council's annual progress report and transport plan.

Figures show the number of accidents has fallen where road safety schemes have been implemented, such as Battens Drive and the A441 Redditch Ringway.

The county council's highways partnership manager for Redditch, Jim Casey, said: "We've put a roundabout on Greenlands Drive because of the number of accidents.

"It cost £23,000 to put in but we've not had any accidents since.

"Every fatality costs the taxpayer more than £1.2 million, a serious accident costs more than £140,000 and a slight accident costs about £14,000.

Redditch has some of the safest roads in the county and according to other recent statistics, the lowest fatality rate from traffic accidents.

The figures come from West Mercia Constabulary's road traffic accident statistics.

Figures showed there were four fatalities in Redditch last year which was the lowest number, together with Worcester, across the whole of Worcestershire and Shropshire.