DRIVERS in Avon and Somerset are being urged to upgrade their road safety skills after it emerged there were 4,122 casualties on the area's roads last year.

Department of Transport figures show 56 people died, 428 were seriously injured and 3,638 were slightly injured in the patch covered by Avon and Somerset Police in 2015.

Motorists are being advised to check their ability behind the wheel by signing up to a course with road safety organisation TTC Group, which educates road uses in a bid to cut casualties.

TTC chairman Jenny Wynn said: "There are still too many people dying and being seriously injured every day on our roads."

Mrs Wynn is also calling on employers to manage the risk their employees face on the road.

She said: "For many years people have been telling us how much safer they feel on the road after attending a course.

"They refresh some forgotten skills or learn new ones and are safer as a result.

"Businesses can also take professional steps to manage the risk their employees face on the road with TTC's DriverProtect programme."

The TTC Group runs courses in Avon and Somerset for people caught speeding or after being referred by police for minor traffic offences.

Business drivers, who are involved in one in three crashes, can manage their risk with TTC DriverProtect while individuals can upgrade their skills by taking a course.

TTC Cycle Experience also run roadshows and courses for cyclists of all ages from toddlers and above to teach safe cycling techniques.