Increase in number of people killed on Scotland’s roads amidst fall in accidents

One hundred and sixty people were killed in reported road accidents in Scotland in 2018, 15 more than in 2017. This increase came despite a 10% drop in the number of accidents where people were killed or injured.

Transport Scotland Statisticians today released provisional headline figures for road casualties reported to the police in Scotland in 2018.  The figures show that the total number of casualties fell by 11 per cent between 2017 and 2018 from 9,433 to 8,402, to the lowest number since records began.  The number of people seriously injured decreased by 1 per cent to 1,581.

The figures also show that in 2018 there were 756 child casualties in reported road accidents, a decrease of 16 per cent since 2017.  This included three fatalities, 1 more than 2017 and 142 children who were seriously injured, down from 152 in 2017.

In 2018 there were 6 pedal cyclists killed, one more than in 2017, and 5 fewer pedestrian fatalities. There were four more motorcyclists killed and 11 more car user fatalities.

2018 saw a 1 per cent increase in both car users and motor cyclists who were seriously injured.  However, the number of pedestrians seriously injured decreased from 379 to 362 and the number of pedal cyclists seriously injured fell from 171 to 156.

Scotland’s road safety framework to 2020 contains 5 national targets for casualty reductions by 2020. Scotland’s performance is currently on track to meet 3 of the 5 targets, although in each case there has been a significant improvement since the 2004-2008 baseline:

• 160 people were killed in 2018, a reduction of 45% since the baseline (performance currently exceeding the 2020 target of a 40% reduction)
• 1,581 people were seriously injured in 2018, a reduction of 39% since the baseline (performance not currently on track to meet the 2020 target of a 55% reduction)
• On average, there were 6 children killed each year between 2016 and 2018: a reduction of 63% since the baseline (performance currently exceeding the 2020 target of a 50% reduction)
• There were 142 children seriously injured in 2018: a reduction of 56% since the baseline (performance not currently on track to meet the 2020 target of a 65% reduction)
• The 2018 slight casualty rate was 13.84 casualties per 100 million vehicle kilometres, a reduction of 57% since the baseline (performance currently exceeding the 2020 target of a 10% reduction)