Rise in deaths on the roads

The number of people killed on UK roads rose last year for the first time since 2003. There were 1,901 people killed in road accidents reported to the police, a 3 per cent increase on 2010.

The Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, said "exceptional weather" over the period accounted for the rise. A Department for Transport document said that heavy snowfalls were to blame.

The number of deaths and serious injuries last year reached 25,023 – 2 per cent up on 2010 and the first increase in those killed or seriously injured since 1994.