RAIN-RELATED traffic accidents led to 23 people across Worcestershire being seriously injured last year, stats reveal.

Highways England have warned motorists to slow down by publishing a raft of data about deaths or injuries caused by wetness.

During 2015, 20 people were killed and 254 left seriously injured by weather-inspired road incidents in the rain across the West Midlands.

Last year the 23 people seriously injured in Worcestershire where wet conditions were cited as a factor included four in Worcester, five in Malvern, six in Wychavon, four in the Wyre Forest, two in Bromsgrove and two in Redditch.

The figures also reveal that travelling too fast for weather conditions was identified as a factor in one in nine road deaths last year, with drivers failing to alter how they move at any point during the year.

Highways England has now launched a new campaign called ‘When it rains, it kills’ by saying people are 30 times are likely to be involved in road accidents during wet conditions than snow.

The plea comes just one day after Worcestershire County Council urged motorists to slow down in the current bitter cold snap.

Frank Bird, Highways England emergency planning officer, said: “Temperatures have fallen in the Midlands to sub-zero.

“We’d encourage motorists heading out on the roads to stop and think about the weather conditions and adjust their driving style accordingly.”

Highways England head of road safety Richard Leonard added: “Most of us already slow down in snow, ice or fog but when it rains we consider it normal so don’t adapt our driving.

“The sad fact is that 2,918 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads in Great Britain when it was raining last year, and not slowing down to suit the current conditions was identified as a factor in one in nine of all deaths.”

It comes as Worcestershire is braced for more sub-zero overnight temperatures.

Forecasters from the Met Office say overnight lows of -4C are expected tonight.

To see a powerful new video from Highways England on the dangers of driving too fast in the rain, go HERE.