DEATHS and injuries in traffic accidents on the A358 from Taunton to Ilminster have dropped dramatically following a raft of road safety measures.
The 80% dip comes after engineering work, driver education and speed enforcement.
There have been 22 collisions with one death and two serious injuries on the seven-mile stretch of road from Thornfalcon to its junction with the A303 at Southfields.
That compares with 41 crashes, with three deaths and 15 serious injuries in the three years to 2005.
Terry Beale, Somerset Road Safety Partnership accident investigation and development manager, said: "This is a remarkable reduction in the number of casualties on this extremely busy stretch of road although, of course, even one collision is too many and we'll continue to work to reduce the casualty figures even further.
"Most crashes occur as the result of a combination of factors and it's only by implementing a combination of engineering, enforcement and education, that we can achieve any lasting reduction in collision and casualty rates."
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The partnership was formed to bring together the experience and expertise of several organisations to drive down casualty rates, create safer communities and improve the quality of life in the area.
Over the past three years, work has been carried out on the A358 to improve signs, road markings and highlight junctions, speeds have been enforced with cameras and advertising, posters and leaflets published to remind drivers of potential hazards.
*The Somerset Road Safety Partnership is using similar initiatives on a number of Red Routes' - major roads with high casualty rates - including the A37 between Yeovil and the Bristol boundary, and the A38 from Shute Shelve to the Devon boundary.
People living along the roads are being invited to free workshops designed to give drivers and riders a greater awareness of road safety issues.
It is planned to implement similar Red Route schemes on the A39 between Bridgwater and County Gate, near Porlock, the A358 between Silk Mills and Williton, and the A361 from Walford Cross to the Pipers Inn, near Street.
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