Deaths on Hertfordshire roads rose last year, angering campaigners hoping for lower speed limits in Borehamwood.

In a report published by Hertfordshire County Council this week, figures show there were 50 fatalities on the county’s roads in 2007, compared with 43 in 2006.

The overall figure of injuries on roads has fallen by 60 from 3,647 in 2006, to 3,587 in 2007.

But campaign group Slow Down For Tommy said the number of deaths proves the need to introduce more 20mph zones across the county.

Tommy Kenny was the only child in the county killed in a road accident last year, although 41 were seriously injured. Tommy was hit by a car in Brook Road, Borehamwood, last April.

His aunt, Michelle Kirby, is upset by the figures. She said: “Since the death of Tommy we have sometimes felt we are just another case - just another number. But it is not just seven extra people that died last year it is seven more families that have had their lives destroyed.

“I don’t feel I am getting heard. I can keep reeling out letters but nothing happens. I always receive a pleasant reply expressing sympathy, but the council doesn’t seem to understand what we are saying.

“We need to find some way of making drivers think about their driving and to take more care. The money is there to make these changes and these figures show it needs to be used.”

In the last decade the highest number of casualties as a result of road accidents occurred in 2000, with 7,199 people hurt. Since then, this figure has decreased every year but the number of fatalities in the last ten years has fluctuated from a high of 59 in 2005, to a low of 38 in 2003.

County Councillor Stuart Pile, executive member for highways, said: “The latest report is greatly encouraging in that it confirms the general downward trend in road collisions and casualties - with record lows in the number of people slightly injured in 2007, but it also reminds us where we need to do more “The decrease in injury collisions in the past few years has been dramatic, which indicates the measures we are using are working and drivers are taking more care - but with 50 people killed and 500 seriously injured on our roads last year we cannot afford a moment's complacency.

“We remain committed to making Hertfordshire’s roads safer and continue to work closely with police, local communities and other agencies to try to get accident rates down every year. Equally important is the work we do to promote safer driving, including basic safety tips such as always wearing a seat belt, driving within the speed limit and not driving when you’re tired or while using a hand-held mobile phone.”