The number of people killed on Thames Valley’s roads last year was the lowest since records began — but almost half of the 95 deaths were in Oxfordshire.

There were 42 road deaths in the county in 2008, an increase on 2007’s total of 34.

Supt Mick Doyle, head of roads policing, said there had been a steady overall decline in fatalities since 1990 when crash death statistics were first compiled.

But roads campaigners fear the increase in Oxfordshire means drivers aren’t getting the message.

Emma Noble, 29, of Witney, lost two of her friends in their late teens in car crashes.

She said: “I’m disappointed the message isn’t getting through.

“Maybe younger drivers don’t care and think they are invincible.

“Until they have lost someone special maybe they will never get the message.”

Cynthia Barlow, chairman of charity RoadPeace, said: “People are still not getting the safety message.

“You see that with the number still caught speeding, over the drink-drive limit and on their mobile phones.”

Police said they would continue with enforcement and education, including stop-checks for mobile phones, speeding and seatbelts.

Across the Thames Valley, there were 95 people killed on the roads — the lowest figure since records were first collated in 1990.

It was also the first time the total has been under 100.

Police said Oxfordshire witnessed the highest number of deaths because it is the largest geographical area within the Thames Valley.

Berkshire suffered 29 deaths and Buckinghamshire 24.

Supt Doyle said: “In Thames Valley over a long period of time you can see the number of people dying on the roads has gone down.

“Forty-two deaths in the context of the last 20 years represents a reduction.

“The reduction is wonderful news – but no comfort for those families that have lost a loved one.”

In 1990, there were 69 people killed on Oxfordshire’s roads and 192 in the Thames Valley.