Kirklees saw the biggest increase in road accident injuries anywhere in England last year.

Figures from the Department for Transport have revealed the number of people who died or were injured on the roads in 2015 with a decrease of four per cent across Britain as a whole.

However, the trend for Kirklees is in stark contrast to that of the rest of the country. There were 1,332 injuries or deaths in the area in 2015, up by 20% compared to the 1,109 in 2014.

This was the biggest increase for any local authority area in England last year.

Despite the number of overall deaths and injuries increasing there has been a decrease in more serious road accidents in Kirklees with the number of people getting killed or seriously injured decreasing by a fifth over the same period of time.

Across West Yorkshire 7,224 were hurt in road accidents in 2015, an increase of 4.1% compared to the figure for 2014 but a decrease of 1.6% compared to the average figure from 2011 to 2014.

As many as 48 people died on the roads in West Yorkshire in 2015, down from 58 in 2014, while a further 872 people were seriously injured.

Across Britain 186,209 were injured or killed in road accidents in 2015, the second lowest figure on record behind that recorded in 2013.

Road accidents in Britain have been steadily falling over the past decade with current levels a third lower than they were in 2005.

The number of fatalities across the country reached 1,732 in 2015 which is lower than the 1,775 recorded in 2014.

West Lothian in Scotland saw the largest increase in injuries in Britain with numbers up by 39% while Torfaen in Wales saw the largest decrease with numbers down by 46%.

A Kirklees Council Spokesperson said: “Casualties on roads are recorded under three categories Slight (a minor injury including whiplash, bruises or cuts, and slight shock as well as injuries not requiring medical treatment); Serious (an injury resulting in admittance to hospital as well as any fractures, concussion, internal injuries, crushings, burns (excluding friction burns), severe cuts, severe general shock requiring medical treatment and injuries; and Fatal (where at least one person is killed).

Whilst in the last year there has been an increase in the number of injuries that are classified as Slight, there has actually been an overall reduction in serious and fatal injuries on Kirklees roads.

When compared with the average number of accidents in the period 2005 – 2009, there has been a reduction in all types of accidents in the last 6 years. The council works with our partners to ensure that our roads are as safe as possible through education, engineering and where necessary enforcement.”

LOCAL AUTHORITY FIGURES FOR ROAD ACCIDENTS IN 2015

Area // People Hurt (% Change from 2014)

Kirklees // 1,332 (20%)

Wakefield // 986 (7%)

Leeds // 2,664 (5%)

Bradford // 1,685 (-4%)

Calderdale // 557 (-11%)