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Local councils in the UK have, on average, cut their road safety budgets by 15 per cent (£23 million) over the last year, which is nine per cent higher than other council cuts, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

This could put British motorists as well as pedestrians in greater danger as cuts hit services such as rehabilitation courses for driving offenders, training for young drivers and school crossing patrols.

Not only could there be more car insurance claims for accidents due to higher levels of unsafe driving, but cuts to road maintenance by some councils could mean more damage is done to cars from the widespread pothole problem in the UK.

One of the most concerning case studies is that of London's Camden Council. It has cut road safety spending by 70 per cent despite a 10.6 per cent increase to road fatalities since 2006.

"The fact that these cuts only represent the first year of savings under the coalition’s spending review is deeply worrying," said IAM chief executive Simon Best.

"Cutting road safety so hard makes no sense. The average wage of a lollipop lady is £3,000 a year while the cost of each road fatality is £1.6 million. So the returns on investment are huge."