MOTORISTS who drive into South Holland could be heading straight to casualty, according to shock NHS statistics.
The district has been named as the fourth least safe place to drive in the country.
Three other Lincolnshire districts are included in the top five – with North Kesteven in first place, Boston second and West Lindsey fifth.
Figures on serious road casualty rates have been compiled by the NHS’s health observatories and published in the annual Injury Profiles report.
The casualty map for the period covering April 2010 and March 2011 shows more than 100 people in every 100,000 were admitted to hospital compared with a national average of 51.9.
Weston motorist Michael Davies said he has been driving for 50 years and was shocked Lincolnshire’s roads were so dangerous.
He said: “I feel safe on the roads because I am an experienced, careful driver, but four Lincolnshire districts in the top five is shocking.
“I would like to ask those responsible for safety on our roads why this is happening.”
John Siddle, communications manager of Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP), said it would not be worth arguing the statistics because in reality they were still bad. However, he said: “The NHS figures include accidents that happen outside Lincolnshire, but where the nearest hospital is in the county, and injuries such as trapping your finger in the boot.”
National statistics used by the LRSP put South Holland as the 37th most dangerous region and South Kesteven 119th out of 379 districts.
Mr Siddle said: “They are bad, but not as severe as the NHS figures would have you believe.
“Over the past 15 years there has been a massive improvement, but you will never get to zero accidents here. In rural areas most trips involve using a car, with people travelling at high speed and hazards like ditches, dykes and trees.
“In 1994 there was 104 fatalities and last year it had dropped to 46.
“There is significant work being done to improve things, such as courses for mature drivers and campaigns involving young drivers and motorcyclists.
“Motorists can also help by leaving enough time for their journeys.”