Road deaths are rising sharply in many parts of Britain - with huge regional variations - despite a national trend of falling numbers of fatalities, The Times has learnt.

Although road deaths fell below 3,000 last year to reach a record low, in several counties in southern England the number of fatalities rose by a fifth over five years. By contrast, in some northern police force areas the figures have tumbled.

Deaths on the roads in Gwent, Cambridgeshire, Wiltshire and Devon & Cornwall police areas have increased by 20 per cent or more since 2003. In Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and Humberside they fell by more than 20 per cent over the same period.

Robert Gifford, director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, which analysed official statistics for The Times, said that the figures reflected longstanding criticism that roads policing had never been a national priority, with Home Secretaries more concerned about issues such as drugs or knife crime. “You could ask, has there been consistent police enforcement in areas where road deaths have risen? Is it the case that, in areas where road deaths have come down, local authorities have been working effectively with their constabularies?” Mr Gifford said.

Merseyside has had the greatest success in bringing down the number of road deaths since 2003, recording a

55 per cent fall. Chief Inspector Christopher Markey, from Merseyside Police, said that his force had achieved this by increased levels of enforcement. “We have identified locations which are targeted,” he said. “Our enforcement is carried out by regular campaigns and spotlight days.”

Road safety experts say that it is difficult to reduce casualties on country roads and, although the number of collisions is higher in urban areas, there is a greater chance of a crash on a rural road resulting in death, in part because of the number of bends, sudden sharp turns and hidden junctions. In towns and cities there are likely to be more speed cameras, road humps and road-narrowing restrictions, which result in lower speeds.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “People tend to think rural roads are safer because there is less traffic and they look pretty, but many are single carriageway, twisty and hilly, which reduces the distance that drivers, riders and walkers can see ahead.”

The Government is considering creating a specific target to reduce road deaths. Its current target, to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 40 per cent by 2010 compared with the average for 1994-98, has been criticised because interpretations vary on what constitutes a serious injury.

Mark Hunter, transport spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: “Until the Government provides the resources to allow local police forces and councils to make road safety a priority, many areas of the country will continue to see road deaths rise.”

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