Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030
The Scottish Government has published a new Road Safety Framework to 2030.
The Framework sets out a vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030 and an ambitious long term goal where no one is seriously injured or killed on our roads by 2050.
The Framework builds on what has already been achieved here in Scotland over the last decade. It sets out new strategic outcomes for road safety, built around the safe system approach, coupled with a comprehensive performance management system to monitor progress. For the first time, mode specific targets are being created to focus attention by partners on priority areas. Transport Scotland will also establish new Local Partnership Forums to expand and grow the connections between national and local road safety across Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson published the new Framework document whilst also announcing a £500,000 allocation to open the latest round of Road Safety Framework Funding – helping organisations take forward innovative projects to improve road safety.
To kick-start a national conversation around road safety, the Framework has also launched to coincide with a new national marketing campaign by the Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland focusing on speed reduction – with the clear message that there is no excuse for speeding. Mr Matheson said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to improving road safety and our new Framework aims to halve road deaths by 2030 and achieve Vision Zero by 2050. Deaths or serious injuries on our road network are not an inevitability. Our strong belief, shared by Scotland’s road safety partners, is that even one death on our roads is one too many.
“Our previous Framework approach has been successful. I know this brings no comfort to those who have lost loved ones, but the latest figures show that casualties on Scotland’s roads are at the lowest levels since records began. We’ve seen a 35 per cent increase in traffic over the past 25 years and a 66 per cent decrease in road collisions across the same period.
“We need to build on what we’ve achieved and our new Framework will do so through a sharper focus, improved evaluation, mode specific targets and stronger connections between national and local levels. At the same time, it aims to support wider policy objectives, such as tackling the climate emergency by supporting a shift away from cars and towards walking, wheeling and cycling for shorter everyday journeys.
“Behavioural change remains key – particularly when it comes to tackling issues like speeding. In addition to wider speed enforcement through the new safety cameras sites I announced last year, I’m pleased this Framework is launching with a new nationwide marketing campaign to tackle the issue of speeding on our roads. I also recognise that many organisations and community groups want to help us make Scotland’s roads safer – and the latest funding of £500,000 will help support their ideas, innovation and evaluation in 2021.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams, Police Scotland said: "Reducing road deaths by half over the next 10 years is, rightly, an ambitious target and Police Scotland is committed to working closely with our road safety partners to achieve this.
"Deaths and serious injuries caused on our roads can often be prevented and we will continue in our efforts to improve driver behaviour and educate road users, in addition to carrying out enforcement activity against people who put themselves, or other road users, at risk. We know that speeding is a significant factor in fatal and serious injury collisions and Police Scotland welcomes the new national campaign to educate the public around the dangers of travelling at inappropriate speeds."
To see the latest speed reduction campaign visit the Road Safety Scotland website or follow Road Safety Scotland on Facebook or Twitter (@roadsafetyscot).
Video transcript: Transport Secretary Michael Matheson introduces Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030.
I'm pleased to present Scotland’s new Road Safety Framework. It sets out our vision for Scotland to have the best performance in road safety in the world by 2030. It also sets out our ambition to ensure there are no serious injuries or deaths on Scotland's roads by 2050.
National statistics show that in 2019 the total number of casualties fell to its lowest since annual records began back in 1950. But even with that success behind us, I believe that one death on Scotland's roads is one too many.
We're introducing a comprehensive performance management system to help us monitor progress including interim targets on the road to 2030. For the first time in Scotland we will also have a number of mode-specific targets to focus our efforts on reducing casualties in these areas.
We're also introducing local partnership forums, for stakeholders across Scotland, to strengthen the local response to road safety issues. Collectively all road users have a role to play in helping to support delivery of the framework, so I'm pleased to announce there will be £500,000 made available through the Road Safety Framework Fund. This is funding to help support non-commercial organisations with innovative ideas to improve Scotland's road safety.
We're also launching a new nationwide marketing campaign through Road Safety Scotland, to promote safer driving behaviours across the country. Our road safety action also supports the aspirations of our wider health and climate emergency policies. I look forward to working with you all to ensure that we deliver on Scotland’s ambition to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030.