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

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

And they have announced a new target for reducing the figure by a further 40 per cent over the next ten years.

Statistics for the year ending December 2000 show that 23 people were killed in road accidents in County Durham (excluding Darlington) compared with the target figure of 34.

And, with just December's figure to add, the number of people seriously injured was 166 compared with the target reduction figure of 350. The target figures set in 1987 were based on the average figures for 1981 to 1985.

Durham County Council cabinet member Don Ross said he believed a number of factors had contributed to the target being reached 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.

He said: "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.

"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."

l Police accident investigators are appealing for information from witnesses to three separate road accidents in the county in the past few days.

A 29-year-old Consett man was hit by a Mercedes car in Medomsley Road, Consett, shortly after midnight on Sunday.

A 14-year-old male motorcyclist was in collision with a car in North Road East in Wingate, east Durham shortly before 10pm.

The third incident involved a 12-year-old boy in-line skater who was struck by a car at Peterlee's Passfield Way early on Friday evening.

All three victims were taken to hospital and were said to be in stable conditions. Anyone with any information is asked to ring the motor patrols unit on 0191-386 4929.