A TOP councillor has called for more policing rather than speed bumps as figures show Kirklees roads are becoming deadlier.

In 2006/07 210 people were killed or seriously injured on the district’s roads, as against 203 the previous year.

The figures were discussed at a Kirklees Partnership meeting in Dewsbury Town Hall yesterday.

Council Cabinet member Clr Martyn Bolt, who is responsible for roads, said many of the accidents were caused by illegal driving.

He added: “Around 30% of accidents which cause death or serious injury are the result of criminal acts like speeding and drink-driving.

“Quite often after a fatal crash residents start a petition calling for speed bumps or other traffic-calming measures.

“But if someone is drunk at the wheel a speed bump is unlikely to help prevent an accident.”

Clr Bolt said he thought greater policing was necessary to cut the number of deaths on the roads.

He said: “We need the police there to arrest people driving illegally.

“Traffic-calming affects everyone while enforcement only affects the guilty,” he added.

The Kirklees Partnership has fallen short of its road safety targets for the past two years.

In 2005/06 203 people were killed or seriously injured – well above the target of 182.

And the figure for 2006/07 of 210 was higher than the target of 204. This year’s target is 194.

The figures also show that accidents on the M62 make up 3% of the total, down from 6% three years ago.