Road deaths reach five-year high

The number of people killed on Britain’s roads reached a five-year high last year.

Some 1,792 deaths were recorded in road traffic accidents in 2016, up 4 per cent on the previous year and the largest number since 2011.

Pedestrian deaths saw the largest year-on-year rise at 10 per cent, followed by car occupants (8 per cent).

Motoring research organisation the RAC Foundation said there has been “next to no progress made in cutting the number of crash deaths”.