Ashford was the third worst district in the county for crashes last year, chalking up 442 casualties.

The figures include six fatalities and 43 seriously injured.

Shepway district was the third best area with 309 crashes although that included six fatalities and 30 serious injuries.

The figures, released this week by Kent County Council, have led to county road chiefs urging road users to be more focused when they get behind the wheel.

Cabinet member for highways Keith Ferrin said: “It’s important to recognise that any crash statistics show a need to change road user behaviour, because the majority of crashes are as a result of human error.”

The overall number of crashes in Kent rose to 4,779 - including 91 fatalities - compared to 90 deaths in 4,752 crashes in 2006. But the total number of casualties on the roads dropped slightly to 6,466, compared to 6,495 in 2006.

More children under the age of 16 were killed on the roads last year. Sixteen died in 2007 compared to 14 in 2006 and just seven in 2005.