THE number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents in County Durham has fallen by more than a third in 13 years, it was announced yesterday.

Provisional figures released by Durham County Council highways officers show that the targets for reducing the number of road casualties in the county by the end of 2000 will be met with ease.

They have announced a newtarget of a further 40 per cent reduction over the next ten years.

Statistics for the year ending in December, show that 23 people were killed in road accidents in County Durham, excluding Darlington, compared with the target figure of 34.

The number of people seriously injured in the same period was 166, compared with the target reduction figure of 350.

The target figures set in 1987 were based on the average for 1981 to 1985.

In Darlington, the number killed on the town's roads fell by 38 per cent, while there was a 67 per cent drop in those seriously injured.

Durham County Council cabinet member Councillor Don Ross said he believed a number of factors lay behind the achievement of the target, including better highway engineering, stricter enforcement of the law, road safety campaigns and better car design.

But he said there was no room for complacency.

"A single fatality is one too many. We have now set ourselves a new target of achieving a further 40 per cent reduction in deaths and serious injuries on roads in County Durham by 2010," he said.

"Every road user can help us achieve this by taking a responsible attitude, looking out for vulnerable road users such as cyclists pedestrians, children and the elderly, and by driving at an appropriate speed.