NEW accident figures show there were 342 people killed or seriously injured on Oxfordshire’s roads last year.

The figures were released two weeks after we revealed the number of people killed in Oxfordshire dropped from 42 deaths in 2008 to 30 in 2009.

'I am pleased to see a continually improving picture, but let us not forget that we still had 30 lives lost again last year and over 300 people seriously injured'

Councillor Rodney Rose

'I am pleased to see a continually improving picture, but let us not forget that we still had 30 lives lost again last year and over 300 people seriously injured'

Councillor Rodney Rose

'I am pleased to see a continually improving picture, but let us not forget that we still had 30 lives lost again last year and over 300 people seriously injured'

Councillor Rodney Rose

'I am pleased to see a continually improving picture, but let us not forget that we still had 30 lives lost again last year and over 300 people seriously injured'

Councillor Rodney Rose

'I am pleased to see a continually improving picture, but let us not forget that we still had 30 lives lost again last year and over 300 people seriously injured'

Councillor Rodney Rose

'I am pleased to see a continually improving picture, but let us not forget that we still had 30 lives lost again last year and over 300 people seriously injured'

Councillor Rodney Rose

'I am pleased to see a continually improving picture, but let us not forget that we still had 30 lives lost again last year and over 300 people seriously injured'

Councillor Rodney Rose

'I am pleased to see a continually improving picture, but let us not forget that we still had 30 lives lost again last year and over 300 people seriously injured'

Councillor Rodney Rose

The figure of 30 was the lowest since records began 35 years ago.

Road safety experts usually place more emphasis on the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSIs) than fatality figures as the difference between an accident resulting in a death or a serious injury is often small.

There were four fewer KSIs on the county’s roads last year compared to 2005, and one less than in 2008.

But the figure is 174 fewer than the number recorded in 2000.

The total number of road casualties in Oxfordshire, including those slightly injured, fell to a record low in 2009 of 2,249, almost 1,200 lower than the 3,439 casualties recorded in 2000.

The number of deaths in the county is equivalent to an entire classful of schoolchildren.

Pupils at St Nicholas’ School in Old Marston have created a giant collage featuring 30 faces as a reminder of those killed.

They also took part in a special assembly where one class stood up to bring home the scale of the casualties.

Headteacher Rachel Crouch said: “Imagining us losing the equivalent of a whole classful of people from our school in a year has really brought it home to the pupils and reminded everyone that they need to take care of themselves and others every time they are out and about near roads.”

Year Six pupil Alex Wareham, 10, said: “We still have to try hard to be safe.

“I’m certainly going to wear my helmet every time I go out on my bike.”

Rueben Reed-Sanderson, nine, in Year Five, said: “It was upsetting to think about everybody who was hurt. Before I cross the road I will make sure I’m really careful.”

Year Four pupil Immanuel Mofu, eight, said: “It’s sad so many people hurt themselves. One of them could have been one of my friends.”

Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “I’m pleased to see a continually improving picture, but let us not forget that we still had 30 lives lost again last year and over 300 people seriously hurt. The council is committed to bringing down further the number of people killed and injured.”