The UK is now number one in the world road safety league, improving from 6th in 2007 and 4th in 2008. The number of people killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads is now below 2000.

Each fatal accident on our roads costs the UK economy £1.79 million in lost output and health care. Every life saved is a direct benefit to society and reduces the number of families who will suffer personal grief from the loss of a loved one for years after the event.

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “Cutting budgets for road safety is a short-sighted economy. Meeting casualty reduction targets has halved road deaths over the past 20 years, saving the economy around £50 billion.

“Achieving similar targets for road deaths by 2020 will save 2,500 lives and over £4 billion. Investing road safety saves the country money so funding being taken away from this area will ultimately cost money and lives. The Parliamentary Council is right to call for continued investment in road safety and demanding casualty reduction targets.”