THE number of people killed or seriously injured on Borders roads has fallen by more than 20 per cent in the last year.

In 2016, 67 people lost their lives or were seriously injured (10 fatalities) in the region compared to 45 (eight fatalities) last year.

And the number of road users slightly injured has fallen by 10 per cent from the 2016 figure of 176 to 158.

The figures were revealed at this month’s Police, Fire, Rescue and Safer Communities Board meeting.

The number of children killed or seriously injured has halved from four in 2016 to two last year.

And the road safety message is being driven home to youngsters through the Drive Wise initiative, which has been targeted at young people under the age of 17 from all of the region’s nine high schools, offering lifesaving training and also giving them the opportunity to drive a brand new Volvo.

To date over 600 students have taken part and in addition a scheme aimed at 17-25-year-olds offers advanced driving lessons for free.

Police road safety officers have also delivered 20 over-65 group sessions including free refresher drives with an approved driving instructor.

The cardboard cut-out policeman ‘Pop-Up-Bob’ was recently deployed in the southern Borders and several councillors who attended the meeting spoke positively about it’s effect.

Welcoming the new figures, Hawick member George Turnbull said: “This is definitely a good news story. Any death on the region’s roads is one death too many.

“The police should be congratulated on the initiatives they have in place and and I applaud any action which makes the roads safer for everyone.”

The report, delivered by Chief Inspector Andy McLean stated: “We have used Pop-Up-Bob in Hawick, Denholm and Newcastleton to aid with speed reduction. This is a cardboard cut out of a police officer that can be placed at the side of the road to slow traffic down with real police officers positioned further down the road to catch those drivers who only slow down for a short time and speed up once past Bob.”

The report continued: “We link closely with Road Policing to give attention to areas identified by the community where speed is an issue and we continually highlight road safety issues and provide feedback to elected members and community council meetings.

“Officer patrol identified locations and carry out road checks to positively influence driver behaviour and we will continue to educate drivers at every opportunity.”