The number of people killed on roads in the West Midland rose by five per cent last year.
Official Department for Transport statistics showed 321 people were killed in the West Midlands - a study area including the West Midlands conurbation, Herefordshire, Shrop-shire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire - compared to 306 in 2002.
A total of 3,508 people were killed on Britain's roads last year, the highest rate since 1997.
The Government has confirmed it is to investigate the rise in fatalities nationally - two per cent - and is particularly concerned about the 14 per cent increase in motorcycle deaths last year, compared with 2002.
The figures have also prompted road safety watchdogs to call for an increase in traffic police and less reliance on speed cameras.
The total number of fatalities across the country included 693 in twowheeled motor vehicle accidents. However, the number of children who died in road accidents fell by four per cent.
Road Safety Minister David Jamieson said: "We are encouraged by the continued fall in road casualties despite the continuing growth in road traffic levels.
"We are concerned about the slight rise in road deaths and are actively researching the causes of this, especially the reasons for the significant rise in motorcycle deaths. We will be publishing a motorcycling safety strategy shortly."
Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Birmingham-based Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "All the evidence points to the road safety benefits of reducing the drink-drive limit.
"We believe there would be wide public support for this and are frustrated that the Government continues to oppose a measure which would save lives.
"After years of successful campaigning, we are now facing a situation where drink-drive deaths are on the increase again and something has to be done before things get even worse."
He said it was the first time road deaths had risen above 3,500 since 1997.
