Scotland’s road casualties fall

Transport Scotland Statisticians have released the final 2013 figures for road casualties. As well as the 10% fall in overall casualties, to 11,498 in 2013, the figures also show that the number of fatalities fell by 3% to 172 and the number of serious injuries decreased by 16% to 1,672. The number of people slightly injured decreased by 9% over the year, to 9,654 in 2013.

Casualty numbers for all modes of transport fell, including a 12% fall in pedestrian casualties, an 11% fall for motorcycle casualties and a 3% fall in pedal cycle casualties. There were increases in fatalities amongst car users, motorcyclists and cyclists but fatalities for all other modes of transport fell between 2012 and 2013.

These statistics provide updates on progress against Scotland’s road safety targetsas set out in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework. Compared to the 2004-2008 baseline, in 2013 there were:

• 172 fatalities, a reduction of 41% (2020 target: 40% reduction)
• 1,672 serious injuries, a reduction of 36% (2020 target: 55% reduction)
• An average of six children killed over the last three years, a reduction of 60% (2020 target: 50% reduction)
• 143 children seriously injured, a reduction of 56% (2020 target: 65% reduction).