Scotland publishes casualty figures

25 June 2013

Figures published  by Transport Scotland show that although road casualties have fallen by 2 per cent and fatalities by 8 per cent since 2011,  there has been a small rise in serious injuries (4%).  Car and pedestrian casualties have decreased whilst motor cycle and pedal cycle casualties have increased.  Pedestrian and pedal cycle fatalities have also increased. They show that 898 cyclists were injured on Scotland’s roads in 2012 - nine per cent more than in 2011. Of these cyclist casualties, nine were killed (two more than in 2011) and 167 were seriously injured (11 more than in 2011).

There were 1,950 pedestrian casualties (five per cent fewer than in 2011); of these, 54 were killed (11 more than in 2011) and 456 were seriously injured (58 fewer than in 2011).

Among motorcyclists, there were 864 casualties (seven per cent more than in 2011), including 21 deaths (12 fewer than in 2011) and 342 serious injuries (49 more than in 2011).

There were 7,577 car user casualties, of whom 72 were killed (17 fewer than in 2011) and 836 were seriously injured (80 more than in 2011).

Overall, there were 170 road deaths in Scotland in 2012 - 15 (eight per cent) fewer than in 2011 and the lowest number since current records began more than 60 years ago. A total of 1,959 people were seriously injured - 82 (four per cent) more than in 2011. And, 10,446 people were slightly injured - 269 (three per cent) fewer than in 2011.

Commenting, RoSPA emphasised that there was a continuing need to focus on improving the safety of vulnerable road users.