THE overall number of accidents on Cotswold roads has decreased for the second year running despite the number of road deaths staying the same.

Provisional figures for 2013 show that nine people died on the district’s roads while 52 were injured and 190 suffering slight injuries.

The figures are an improvement on the 2012 statistics in which a total of 277 casualties were recorded, with nine people dying, 44 sustaining serious injuries and 224 getting slight injuries.

Garry Handley, county road safety manager at Gloucestershire County Council, revealed the early figures to members of Cotswold District Council’s Audit and Scrutiny committee on Thursday, February 13.

He said: “Roads are becoming safer and although things are going well, there is still a lot to do. 260 accidents are still too many and almost all of them are preventable.

“The cause of almost every incident is driver error. We need to change people’s attitudes to driving,” he added.

Before the figures are published officially, it is unclear to say if the Cotswold area is still the worst area of Gloucestershire for road safety.

In 2011 more than 330 people were injured on roads in the Cotswolds, the equivalent of one person being hurt nearly every day of the year.

The Cotswolds was ahead of its neighbouring districts again in 2012 with a total of 277 casualties on its roads.

Cllr Robin Hughes (Con, Sandywell) questioned Mr Handley on whether the poor state of Cotswold roads contributed to the number of accidents.

Responding, Mr Handley said: “It is possible that bad roads can cause damage to cars and that it can affect the way a motorist drives. We will be keeping our eye on the roads in the area.”

Members of the Audit and Scrutiny committee voted to meet with officials from the police and fire services to discuss road safety before voting on whether further work is needed in the area.

For more information on road safety in the county, visit www.roadsafety-gloucestershire.org.uk.