Sharp fall in road deaths

ROAD deaths across Europe fell sharply last year, partly because people are using their cars less during the economic downturn.

Fatalities dropped 13.5% on British roads in 2008 — 2,645 recorded deaths last year compared with 3,059 in 2007.

The picture is similar elsewhere in Europe and across the world: road deaths down 17.5% in Ireland, 13.6% in Belgium, 9.7% in America, and 8.5% in Australia.