Number of road deaths rises above 100

More than 100 people were killed on the region's roads last year up on the previous 12 months, new figures released from the Department of Transport reveal.

The statistics show 103 pedestrians, drivers and passengers lost their lives on roads in the Black Country, Staffordshire and Birmingham during 2009.

This compares to 99 fatalities in 2008. In Walsall, the number of deaths in 2009 was seven, up from four the previous 12 months.

There were 33 fatalities in Birmingham in 2009 compared to 29 the year before.

In Dudley, five people lost their lives, which is an increase from three. In Sandwell, the number killed was 10 up from six. However, a total of 45 people died on roads in Staffordshire in 2009 a fall from 48 in the previous year. In Wolverhampton, there were three deaths, down from nine in 2008.

Duncan Vernon, spokesman for The Roy-al Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said today the number of deaths on roads in the West Midlands was "concerning".

"The general trend over the last couple of years concerning deaths on roads in the UK has been down," he said.

"But the West Midlands is not the only region where there has been an increase.

"We need to look at any rise such as this and discover why it has happened."

Ellen Booth, campaign officer at road safety charity Brake, added: "The fact that this many people are killed is very significant. We have to think about the families who are left devastated."

Across Britain as a whole, the number of deaths on roads fell by 12 per cent last year to a record low, according to the Government figures.