Increased number of people killed on Scotland’s roads
Transport Scotland Statisticians today released provisional headline figures for road casualties reported to the police in Scotland in 2014. The figures show that the total number of casualties fell by two per cent between 2013 and 2014 from 11,504 to 11,240, to the lowest number since records began. However, the number of fatalities rose by 16 per cent, between 2013 and 2014, from 172 to 200 and the number of people seriously injured also increased by one per cent to 1,694.
The figures also show that in 2014 there were 1,040 child casualties in reported road accidents, a decrease of 2 per cent since 2013. This included seven fatalities, 2 fewer than 2013 and 171 children who were seriously injured, up from 143 in 2013.
There were five fewer pedal cyclists killed than in 2013 but 18 more pedestrian fatalities. There were also eight more motorcyclists killed and four more car user fatalities.
2014 saw a five per cent reduction in car users seriously injured and a small decrease in bus and coach users seriously injured but other modes of transport saw increases in the number of people seriously injured; there were five per cent more pedestrians and pedal cyclists seriously injured and a 14 per cent increase in the number of motorcyclists seriously injured between 2013 and 2014.
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 2014 there were:
- 200 fatalities, a reduction of 31 per cent (2015 milestone: 30% reduction; 2020 target: 40% reduction). This also updates National Indicator 32, to reduce deaths on Scotland’s roads (http://www.gov.scot/About/scotPerforms).
- 1,694 serious injuries, a reduction of 35 per cent (2015 milestone: 43% reduction; 2020 target: 55% reduction)
- an average of six children killed over the last three years, a reduction of 61 per cent (2015 milestone: 35% reduction; 2020 target: 50% reduction)
- 171 children seriously injured, a reduction of 47% (2015 milestone: 50% reduction; 2020 target: 65% reduction)
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.
Background
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 2014. Final figures will be published in Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2014 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