Decrease in number of people killed on Scotland’s roads - A National Statistics Publication for Scotland
Transport Scotland Statisticians today released provisional headline figures for road casualties reported to the police in Scotland in 2015. The figures show that the total number of casualties fell by three per cent between 2014 and 2015 from 11,307 to 10,950, to the lowest number since records began. The number of people seriously injured also decreased by six per cent to 1,597.
The figures also show that in 2015 there were 974 child casualties in reported road accidents, a decrease of 6 per cent since 2014. This included five fatalities, 2 fewer than 2014 and 140 children who were seriously injured, down from 172 in 2014.
There were three fewer pedal cyclists killed than in 2014 and 18 fewer pedestrian fatalities. There were also three fewer motorcyclists killed and 22 fewer car user fatalities.
2015 saw a six per cent reduction in car users seriously injured and motor cyclist serious injuries fell by 22 per cent. Pedestrian and other modes of transport also saw decreases in the number of people seriously injured. However, the number of bus and coach users seriously injured increased from 28 to 49 and pedal cyclists seriously injured from 159 to 164 between 2014 and 2015.
These statistics provide updates on progress against Scotland’s road safety targets as set out in the Scottish Road Safety Framework. Compared to the 2004-2008 baseline, in 2015 there were:
- 162 fatalities, representing a reduction of 44 per cent on the 2004-2008 baseline. (The 2015 milestone is a 30% reduction with the 2020 target a reduction of 40%. This also updates National Indicator 32, to reduce deaths on Scotland’s roads http://www.gov.scot/About/scotPerforms.)
- 1,597 serious injuries, representing a reduction of 39 per cent on the baseline. (The 2015 milestone is a 43% reduction with the 2020 target a reduction of 55%.)
- an average of seven children killed over the last three years, representing a reduction of 55 per cent. The 2015 milestone is a 35% reduction and the 2020 target is a reduction of 50%
- 140 children seriously injured, a reduction of 57% on the baseline. The 2015 milestone is a 50% reduction and the 2020 target is a reduction of 65%.
The figures released today were produced by independent statistical staff free from any political interference, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
The full statistical publication is available on the Transport Scotland website: http://bit.ly/TSStats-KRRCS
The publication presents provisional statistics of injury road accidents (i.e. road accidents in which one or more people were killed or injured) in Scotland in 2015. Final figures will be published in Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2015 in October and will include extensive analyses of the numbers of accidents, vehicles and casualties, including information on contributory factors. The figures included in this publication may also differ from Police Scotland management information.
The statistics in the publication are used by Transport Scotland, Police Scotland, Local Authorities and road safety professionals across Scotland to target interventions to make Scotland’s roads safer.
The Scottish Road Safety Framework was launched in June 2009, outlining Scotland specific targets. This can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/01090036/0. Progress towards the 2020 casualty reduction targets is shown in section 8 of the publication. Each reduction target is assessed against the 2004/08 average. These 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; Measured using an average of three years of data due to the small numbers and year on year fluctuations
a 65 per cent reduction in the number of children seriously injured; and
a 10 per cent reduction in the slight casualty rate, expressed as the number of people slightly injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres
The first target is also part of the Scottish Government National Performance Framework, National Indicator 32 to reduce deaths on Scotland’s roads. http://www.gov.scot/About/Performance/scotPerforms/indicator/roaddeaths
Further information on Transport and Travel statistics within Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/analysis/statistics
Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About
Contact: Transport Scotland Press Office: 0141 272 7195