The number of people killed in road accidents in 2009 was 300, according to preliminary figures from the Traffic Safety Council.

The figures show a 25 percent drop on 2008, when 406 people lost their lives in traffic accidents of all types.

“Every death is a death too many but the drop is very positive. We are now back at levels we had in 2006, which was a good year for traffic safety. But if the positive development is to continue, we need further initiatives to reduce the number of killed and injured as much as possible,” Says Council Director Anders Rosbo.

The drop in road accidents has also been seen in many other European countries – one of the explanations is said to be that the economic crisis has meant that people drive shorter distances and more carefully. Tougher rules on illegal mopeds and increased focus on right-turn accidents have also had an effect.

Danish road rules require vehicles turning right to give way to cyclists.

Despite the drop in deaths, there is still some way to go to reach the Road Safety Commission’s targets of a maximum of 256 road deaths in 2009.

“Speed continues to be the reason for most road deaths. We hope that Denmark will follow the successes of most other European countries in using automatic speed controls. Speed cameras would undoubtedly reduce the number of deaths and injured to the level we are seeking,” says Rosbo.