THE North-East saw the biggest increase in country in accidents where people were killed or seriously injured (KSI) on the roads last year, new figures show.

According to recent data from the Department for Transport, KSI accidents increased by eight per cent in the region between 2011 and 2012.

The rise meant an extra 65 serious accidents over the 12 months, analysis by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) showed.

A two per cent increase has pushed Yorkshire and Humberside to the top of the accident rate table.

Per head of population you are more likely to be killed or injured in Yorkshire and Humberside than anywhere else in England.

The figures showed the South-East, which was one of the worst regions for road safety last year, had made the biggest improvement with an eight per cent decrease in KSI accidents.

This follows a ten per cent increase between 2010 and 2011.

However, London did see an increase of 217 in the number of killed and serious injured accidents in 2012.

The South-West saw a six per cent increase in accident rates for the most serious crashes with 127 additional killed or serious injured accidents.

There were reductions in the North West, South East, and West Midlands, cancelling out small increases in Yorkshire and Humber, East of England and London, giving an overall reduction of two per cent in accident rates for England.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Drivers across England should not be at higher risk just because of where they live.

“Additional funding should be available to those areas with greater road safety problems. What we need is a national road safety body with full responsibility for monitoring progress and bringing together best practice so that that everyone benefits equally from safer roads.”