The death toll on Britain's roads is increasing, official Government figures out today showed.

A total of 3,508 people died on the roads in 2003 - 2% more than in 2002, the Department for Transport said.

The total of people killed or seriously injured last year was 37,215 - a 6% reduction on the 2002 figure.

Overall, road casualties in 2003 totalled 290,607 - 4% down on the 2002 figure.

The statistics showed: Child casualties fell by 8% in 2003. The number of children killed or seriously injured in 2003 was 4,100 (down 11% on 2002); Of those, 2,381 were pedestrians - 16% down on 2002. There were 171 child fatalities - 4% fewer than in 2002; Pedestrian casualties totalled 36,405 in 2003 - 6% lower than 2002. There were 774 pedestrian deaths, about the same level as 2002. Serious injuries fell by 9% to 7,159; The number of pedal cyclists killed fell by 12% to 114.

Total casualties among pedal cyclists fell marginally in 2003 to 17,033; There were 28,411 two-wheeled motor vehicle user casualties in 2003 - 58 more than in 2002. The number of seriously injured increased 1% to 6,959 but the number killed increased by 14% to 693; The number of deaths among car users in 2003 was 1,769 - 1% more than in the previous year. The number of seriously injured fell by 9% to 15,522.

Total casualties among car users was 188,342 - 5% lower than 2002. Provisional traffic estimates show a 1% rise in car and taxi traffic; There were 214,030 road accidents involving personal injury in 2003 - 3% less than in 2002. Of these, 32,160 accidents involved death or serious injury. Given the 1% rise in traffic levels, the overall casualty rate per 100 million vehicle kilometres was 5% lower than in 2002.