The government has cut spending on road safety campaigns from £19 million in 2008/09 to just £4 million in 2011/12 – a cut of nearly 80%.

The figure was revealed after a freedom of information enquiry by road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

The Department for Transport is planning on spending £3.57 million on road safety in the 2012/13 financial year, which will see:

•    £53,000 spent on cyclist safety

•    £78,000 on child and teenager road safety

•    £50,000 on research into young drivers

•    £1.275 million on motorcycle campaigns; and

•    £1.689 million on drink-drive campaigns.

Every fatal road accident costs the UK £1.7 million. In 2011 the total cost of fatal road accidents was £3.2 billion, with immeasurable emotional and social costs.

IAM director of policy Neil Greig said: “£53,000 is a derisory amount to spend on national cycle safety campaigns. Until we have the right roads infrastructure in place, publicity and education campaigns are one of the few tools we have to help us save cyclists lives."