A PUSH to make North Wales roads safer was paying off police said yesterday. Fewer people were killed in crashes on the region's roads last year a Department of Transport survey showed. There were 42 deaths in 2005, down from 58 in the North Wales police force area the previous years. The number of serious injuries also dropped from 280 to 200 over the same period, while the number of slight injuries fell by 15% from 2,865 to 2,447. Overall, the number of injuries fell by 16% from 3,203 to 2,689. Supt Terry Stanton of North Wales Police said: "Our efforts to make the roads of North Wales a safer place for all are succeeding. "North Wales Police will actively continue to engage, educate and enforce the road safety message." In contrast, the number of road deaths in South Wales increased from 55 to 57, while fatalities in Dyfd-Powys increased from 49 to 52. Nationally, a total of 3,201 people were killed in road accidents in Britain in 2005 --1% fewer than in 2004 and the lowest total since records began in 1926. Total deaths and serious injuries last year reached 32,155 - 6% down on the 2004 figure. Child casualties fell by 9%. A total of 141 children died on the roads last year - 15%% fewer than in 2004. An initiative launched earlier this month was aimed at preventing young people being killed on North Wales roads. Pass Plus Cymru provides driving skills to reduce their chances of being involved in road crashes. Britain's worst-ever cycling tragedy occurred in January of this year on the A547. A Toyota Corolla skidded on an icy road and collided with a dozen riders in a group from Rhyl Cycling Club on January 8. The crash claimed the lives of Maurice Broadbent, 61, from Rhuddlan, Dave Horrocks, 55, from Moelfre, Wayne Wilkes, 42, of Rhyl and 14-year-old Thomas Harland from Prestatyn. | 
