Figures announced by police yesterday show a big drop in the number of road deaths last year.

But Northumbria Constabulary said that more than twice as many people were killed on the roads than were murdered.

A total of 44 people died in road crashes across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, while 18 people died due to violent attacks.

Road deaths in 2000 fell by 38 per cent - down from 71 in 1999 - and serious injuries dropped by 55.

The overall number of collisions rose by 119 and 194 more people were hurt than in the previous year. Police estimated excessive speed was a factor in 70 per cent of all collisions.

In the past three weeks, traffic police have blitzed crash hotspots where drivers are known to ignore speed restrictions. In that time, 3,797 motorists were caught speeding.

Assistant chief constable Paul Leighton said: "It is impossible to put a figure on the grief and heartache suffered by the families of people killed."

But he said that a fatal crash costs society about £1m and a serious injury accident £600,000 in insurance payments, disruption on business, demands on the NHS and police investigations.