The number of people killed or seriously injured on the county's roads last year was down 42 per cent on the annual toll for 2000.

And the number of children involved in serious or fatal crashes had fallen by more than half compared with the level recorded at the turn of the century.

Overall, the number of people suffering slight injuries dropped by 23 per cent against a target of 10 per cent.

At a meeting of the Northamptonshire Police Authority yesterday, Deputy Chief Constable Davina Logan said the figures represented positive achievements in road safety. She said: "The report highlights the breadth of work being undertaken by the partnership in the areas of education activities and in community involvement."

Based on a national road safety strategy drawn up in 2000, the partnership set reduction targets of a 40 per cent reduction in the number of adults and 50 per cent of children being killed or seriously injured by the end of 2011. Each goal had been met by the end of 2007.

However, the report also noted that more than 40,000 speeding offences were recorded in the county by fixed and mobile cameras, while 3,714 people were caught jumping red lights.

Police Authority member David Garlick said: "This is a big worry and I don't think much progress can be made unless there is a national campaign to try to change people's attitudes."