In-Depth Road Traffic Fatalities Report for the Years 2015-2020 – Scotland

31 October 2024

Since 2000, the number of people killed on Scotland’s roads has decreased by 47% with 2020 having the lowest number of fatalities ever recorded. However, in 2022, there was a rise in recorded fatalities which follows on from the long-term downward trend.

An in-depth analysis of all fatal road traffic collisions on Scotland’s road network for the years 2015-2020 was conducted to support the reduction in road casualties and gain an understanding of how fatal collisions are happening on Scotland’s road network.  Working in partnership, in the delivery of Scotland's Road Safety Framework 2030 (RSF2030) Police Scotland and Transport Scotland have established a road traffic fatality database, with an analyst from Police Scotland interrogating the data to create a detailed report.

The outcomes of the report provide insight into the causation of fatal collisions and has allowed for the identification of countermeasures and pro-active recommendations which if implemented, may have prevented or reduced the severity of these collisions and can be used in order to reduce the risk and harm of future collisions that have similar characteristics.