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4. Reported numbers of Casualties by Severity (Table 2)

4.1 In 2012, 170 people were killed in road accidents in Scotland, 15 (8%) fewer than 2011 and the lowest since current records began more than 60 years ago. Since 1978, there has been a clear, steady long-term downward trend. More recent years' figures appear to have been fluctuating around a less pronounced downward trend.

4.2 In 2012 there were 1,959 people seriously injured in road accidents: 82 (4%) more than in 2011. The long-term trend, has generally been downward since the early 1980s.

4.3 There were 10,446 people reported as slightly injured in 2012 which was 269 (3%) fewer than in 2011. Between 1970 and the late 1990s, the figures fluctuated between 17,000 and 21,000. However, there has been a clear downward trend since 1997.

Table 2: Casualties by Severity, 1950 - 2012
Killed Serious injury Killed and Serious Slight injury All Severities
1950 529 4,553 5,082 10,774 15,856
1955 610 5,096 5,706 15,193 20,899
1960 648 6,632 7,280 19,035 26,315
1965 743 8,744 9,487 22,340 31,827
1970 815 10,027 10,842 20,398 31,240
1975 769 8,779 9,548 19,073 28,621
1980 700 8,839 9,539 19,747 29,286
1985 602 7,786 8,388 18,899 27,287
1986 601 7,422 8,023 18,094 26,117
1987 556 6,707 7,263 17,485 24,748
1988 554 6,732 7,286 18,139 25,425
1989 553 6,998 7,551 19,981 27,532
1990 546 6,252 6,798 20,430 27,228
1991 491 5,638 6,129 19,217 25,346
1992 463 5,176 5,639 18,534 24,173
1993 399 4,454 4,853 17,561 22,414
1994 363 5,208 5,571 17,002 22,573
1995 409 4,930 5,339 16,855 22,194
1996 357 4,041 4,398 17,318 21,716
1997 377 4,047 4,424 18,205 22,629
1998 385 4,072 4,457 18,010 22,467
1999 310 3,765 4,075 16,927 21,002
2000 326 3,568 3,894 16,624 20,518
2001 348 3,410 3,758 16,153 19,911
2002 304 3,229 3,533 15,742 19,275
2003 336 2,957 3,293 15,463 18,756
2004 308 2,766 3,074 15,428 18,502
2005 286 2,666 2,952 14,933 17,885
2006 314 2,635 2,949 14,320 17,269
2007 281 2,385 2,666 13,573 16,239
2008 270 2,575 2,845 12,747 15,592
2009 216 2,288 2,504 12,540 15,044
2010 208 1,969 2,177 11,161 13,338
2011 185 1,877 2,062 10,715 12,777
2012prov. 170 1,959 2,129 10,446 12,575
2004 - 2008 average 292 2,605 2,897 14,200 17,097
2008 - 2012 average 210 2,134 2,344 11,522 13,865
2012 percentage change:
on 2011 -8% 4% 3% -3% -2%
on 04-08 average -42% -25% -27% -26% -26%

 

1. Figures for 2011 and earlier years may differ slightly to those previously published due to late returns, or corrections to earlier returns.
2. Although regular records of the numbers of casualties began in 1947, the level of severity was only collected from 1950 and the number of injury road accidents weren't collected until 1970.

4.4 There were a total of 12,575 casualties (of all severities) reported in 2012: 202 (2%) fewer than in 2011 and the lowest number recorded. Between around 1970 and 1990, the figures fluctuated around a general downward trend, with numbers falling from the short-term peak in 1989 & 1990 (of over 27,000). Since 1998, there has been a consistent reduction every year, with numbers dropping below 15,000 in 2010 to the lowest level recorded.

Figure 1: Killed from 1950 to 2012

Figure 1: Killed from 1950 to 2012

Figure 2: Killed and Seriously injured casualties and Seriously injured casualties, 1950 - 2012

Figure 2: Killed and Seriously injured casualties and Seriously injured casualties, 1950 - 2012

Figure 3: All casualties and Slightly injured casualties, 1950 - 2012

Figure 3: All casualties and Slightly injured casualties, 1950 - 2012