The number of deaths and serious injury crashes has plummeted on Kent's roads since speed cameras were introduced.

Figures released today by the government show a dramatic drop in serious accidents over a six-year period.

In total, the worst accidents have fallen by more than 70% at fixed speed camera sites in Kent and Medway.

And at some key spots the number of fatal or serious accidents has fallen to zero.

The total number of serious crashes throughout the county fell from 347 in the three years before fixed cameras were installed to 80 in the last three available years, up to 2010.

That is a total fall of 74%.

And for camera vans, the fall was two thirds - from 192 to 62.

Some of the most dramatic changes include:

* Northdown Hill in Broadstairs, which saw 14 accidents before safety cameras to none up to 2010

* The A229 Loose Road, near Maidstone, which saw serious accidents fall from nine to two

* In Culverstone Green, on the A227, accidents went from 12 to one.

* And on the A228 in Grain, fatal and serious crashes dropped from 14 to three.

All local authorities were asked to publish information about the effectiveness of their speed cameras.

Road safety minister Mike Penning said: "Local residents have a right to expect that when their council spends money on speed cameras, they publish information to show whether those cameras are helping to reduce accidents or not.

"I hope that this information will help local people to make informed judgements about the impact cameras are having on their local roads."

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "This data must be used with care. The best speed cameras deliver lower speeds and fewer casualties without catching lots of drivers out.

"Any camera that consistently issues tickets clearly has location or signposting issues. No camera should ever be removed without a clear education or engineering solution to replace it."

Katherine Barrett, communications officers at Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership, said: "Information baords will be going up at roadside camera sites across Kent and Medway clearly showing how many lives have been saved and serious injuries prevented at each site.

"It means drivers will be able to see exactly how effective a particular camera has been.

"There are 79 fixed safety camera sites in Kent and Medway, all of which were installed at specific locations because of their history of crashes in which people have been killed or seriously injured.

"Crash fatalities and casualties across the county continue to fall at camera sites year on year and this success has been achieved through a combination of educating drivers and encouraging them to slow down, effective publicity campaigns, and enforcement."

She said the partnership would continue to monitor cameras' effectiveness, as there were still some drivers not heeding the safety advice.