FOUR people have lost their lives on Gwent's roads already in 2003, as police and politicians pledge to reduce numbers of road deaths.

As the Argus reported yesterday, Paul Osborne, 27, (pictured) a father-of-two of Old Barn Way, Abergavenny, died in the early hours of Sunday morning in an accident with a car.

His death came just days after the announcement by Wales' environment minister, Sue Essex, of a road safety campaign for Wales, to reduce road deaths by 40 per cent through research and safety advice.

Last January there was only one traffic-related death in Gwent.

But police say fatalities are too random for monthly figures to be taken in isolation, and they are working hard to bring the annual death toll down.

Mr Osborne was crossing Old Hereford Road when he was in an accident with a Vauxhall Nova in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Inspector Gareth Beak said: "It's a tragedy that a young gentleman has lost his life. The matter will be investigated fully and we are speaking to witnesses."

He said 25 people were killed on Gwent's roads in 2002, which was down from 29 in 2001.

"Last year we did an in-depth study and found driving documentation offences seemed to be a common factor with fatalities," he said.

"In September and October 55 per cent of fatalities were linked with offences like driving without insurance or while disqualified. That doesn't explain the accidents themselves but we will be addressing these offences more directly."

He called for drivers to watch their speed and show greater courtesy to pedestrians and cyclists.

He added: "Driving is a serious business and full consideration and attention should be shown at all times."

Last year only one motorcyclist died on Gwent roads and Insp Beak pointed to the success of the Bikesafe scheme - which boosted safety awareness among weekend bikers.

Other fatal accidents in Gwent this year involved two men who died in an M4 crash near High Cross, and an elderly pedestrian in Caerphilly.