THE death toll on Somerset's roads fell last year to the lowest figure in five years.
Eighty people lost their lives in 76 fatal accidents, Avon and Somerset police reported this week.
Last year's fall reverses a trend which had seen a steady increase in the annual death toll from 83 in 1999 to a 106 in 2001.
The most common primary cause, cited in 26 crashes last year, was driver error.
Alcohol was the key factor in 12 road deaths.
During 2002, when there were 90 fatal collisions leading to 96 deaths, the CIU charged 28 people with responsibility for the crashes.
Fourteen were charged with offences carrying a maximum ten-year sentence, including causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol.
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