Unpopular and controversial safety initiatives have been hailed by police for cutting deaths and injuries on the road.

The number of people hurt on Oxfordshire's roads fell to a record low in 2007, according to Department for Transport figures released yesterday.

Police road chiefs praised speed cameras and education courses for catching drivers who speed, use mobile phones or don’t wear a seatbelt, and ensuring a 19 per cent overall drop in road injuries.

The amount of injuries suffered by motorists, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians in 2007 was 2,650, down from the average 3,266 between 1994-98.

Road users killed or seriously injured dropped from 385 to 374.

Supt Mick Doyle, of Oxfordshire roads policing, said: "We know the road safety cameras have made a massive contribution to saving lives.

"We've put cameras at accident blackspots and seen a 43 per cent reduction in people killed or seriously injured.

"They may not be popular, but they are having an effect.

"We, as a police force, have concentrated on drink-drivers, drug-driving, mobile phone use and seatbelts. It has been education first and punishment as a last resort — we've put a lot of attention on education.

"Every life saved is good news, but there is still much to be done."

The number of pedestrians injured fell from 276 to 217, while motorists hurt dropped to 1,715 from 2,157.

Tony Kirkwood, road safety engineer at Oxfordshire County Council, said money spent improving roads had also contributed.

He said: "The county council has introduced road safety improvement schemes — such as improved junctions and bends and traffic calming measures in many areas.

"We have been very active with Thames Valley Police in educating the public about the dangers of speeding and dangerous forms of driving — including texting or phoning while driving and drink-driving.

"These figures are very welcome, but such statistics tend to be prone to ups and downs over a period of years, and so should be treated with a measure of caution."

Richard Owen, operations manager at Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership, said motorists had slowed down, making the roads safer.

He said: "The latest speed surveys by the Department for Transport do indicate that average traffic speeds are reducing, with the average speed in built up areas now being 30mph.

"We are certainly finding that people are slowing down at the camera site we operate, with fewer fines being issued than ever before."

However, the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured increased in 2007 from 57 to 92 and cyclists jumped from 34 to 45.

Motorcycle trainer Dave Grover, of Quickstart DA, said: "It's simply the sheer volume of cars."