Road deaths in Scotland increase

Two hundred people were killed in reported road accidents in Scotland in 2014, 16 per cent more than in 2013, according to statistics that have been released by Transport Scotland.

As well as the increase in fatalities from 2013 to 2014, the number of people seriously injured also increased by two per cent to 1,699.

However, the figures show the total number of casualties fell by two per cent from 11,504 in 2013 to 11,268 in 2014, the lowest number since records began.

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There were five fewer pedal cyclists killed than in 2013 but 19 more pedestrian fatalities. There were also seven more motorcyclists killed.

Although an increase on the previous year, the 200 fatalities in 2014 is a drop of 31 per cent from 2004-2008 levels.

There was a three per cent reduction in child casualties from 2013 to 2014.

An average of six children have been killed on Scotland’s roads per year over the last three years, which is a reduction of 61 per cent from 2004-2008 levels.

The statistics track progress against Scotland’s road safety targets, as set out in the Scottish Road Safety Framework.

The Scottish Road Safety Framework was launched in June 2009 and outlines targets for road safety improvement by 2020 against a baseline of 2004-2008 figures.

The targets are:

• a 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed in road traffic accidents;
• a 55 per cent reduction in the number of people seriously injured;
• a 50 per cent reduction in the number of children killed;
• a 65 per cent reduction in the number of children seriously injured; and
• a 10 per cent reduction in the slight casualty rate.

The full statistics are available on the Transport Scotland website.