Nearly 4,000 killed and injured on Wearside's roads in last five years

Figures from Road Safety GB North East showed there were 19 road deaths in Sunderland from December 2010 to November 2015.

In total there were just under 4,000 injuries. Of those, 367 were classed as serious and 3,557 were slight.

During the same time, there were more than 7,000 injuries in County Durham, which had the highest number in the region, and 112 deaths. 875 injuries were deemed serious and 6,423 were slight.

Road Safety GB North East is being supported by the region’s 12 local authorities, police forces, fire crews and Police and Crime Commissioners.

It aims to reduce the number of collisions on the roads, as well as casualties, and to educate and inform on road safety.

Chairman Paul Watson said: “You may be the greatest driver in the world, with a terrific safety record, but you could still be involved in a serious collision due to a mistake by someone else.

“Accident figures never make good reading.

“We are urging everyone to take extra care when on the roads, and to make sure you act safely. Crucially, we want everyone to anticipate other people’s poor judgment.

“We want people to look out for each other. It could prevent a collision.”

Of the people most seriously injured, 35% were motorists, 27% were pedestrians, 19% were motorbikers and 12% were cyclists.