SIMPLE improvements at notorious blackspots could save about a third of fatal accidents in East Lancashire, a motoring organisation claimed.

But police and councillors said today common sense by drivers was the key to slashing the number of accidents.

The AA-led European Road Assessment Programme (RAP) studied more than 800 roads in the country to identify accident blackspots.

Five of the worst were in the North West.

The 24 kilometre A682, which runs from Nelson to Long Preston, through the Ribble Valley, was the worst in Lancashire and came ninth in the national list.

The winding single carriageway is a favourite with bikers.

Using accident statistics from 1997-1999, each road was given a 'star' rating.

Those that got no stars were ranked the worst, with four stars awarded to the safer roads.

The A682 was one of just 23 awarded no stars and was identified as having a "very high accident rate."

During that three-year period, there were 20 serious or fatal accidents on the A682 -- 13 of those involved motorcyclists, six which proved fatal.

Roads with no stars have accident rates 10 times higher than the best performing roads in the four-star category. An average road scores between two and three stars.

The RAP hopes the findings will allow highway designers to make changes to lessen the risk of the four major killers -- head-on crashes, accidents at junctions, collisions with vulnerable road-users such as pedestrians and cyclists and vehicles hitting objects at the side of the road.

John Dawson, AA policy director and RAP chairman, said: "We have to make roads more forgiving -- Everyday human error shouldn't carry a death sentence.

People should not be dying on major routes because basic protection is absent from entirely predictable collisions, such as with unfenced roadside objects.

"We cannot demand five-star cars from manufacturers and then settle for one-star roads.

"The cars we drive, the way we drive and the roads we drive them on are all part of a single safety system."

But police insist they are winning the battle to drive down accident statistics.

Sergeant Stuart Isherwood, of the Accrington Road Policing Unit, said officers are working in partnership with Lancashire County Council, Ribble Valley Borough Council, and other organisations to make the road safer.

In 2000, no deaths were caused on the road, although last year a number if casualties were recorded.

Sgt Isherwood said: "The recent number of deaths has caused us concern and it is something we are particularly targeting.

"We have already put a number of safety measures in place and improved the signs.

"The road is well used by bikers and the lighter nights and finer weather will see more of them come out. Our advice to them is to enjoy the road -- it is a lovely ride -- but stay within the speed limits and observe the signs."

Councillor Richard Sherras, whose ward covers Gisburn, added: "Police have maintained a high-visibility approach, especially at weekends, and have done their best.

"It's down to the drivers to exercise common sense."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said the AA had highlighted a problem it was already aware of and said work had been undertaken to curb the problem.

The A59 from Whalley to Preston was also on the list with one star. It came 91st.