Road Safety Framework: Annual Report 2011

Foreword

This is the third annual report for Scotland's Road Safety Framework. I am delighted to record that we have built further on last year's encouraging progress to reduce road casualties.

On the numbers front, the latest reported statistics for 2010 show that Scotland achieved the lowest road accident fatality rates since records began. We have also surpassed the UK road safety targets set ten years ago and which ended on 31 December 2010. However, a single death on our roads is one too many. So, we now begin to measure ourselves against the first national Scottish targets for reductions in road deaths and serious injuries, as of 1 January 2011.

On the prevention of accidents front, my thanks to our road safety partners for their continued leadership and support. This is a Partnership; and joint working is proving its worth. Here are a few examples from 2011.

In March 2011, we published the outcomes of our National Debate on the safety of young drivers. Young drivers (17-25) and their passengers are disproportionately represented in road casualties. We are working with partners in local authorities, the police, the fire and rescue service and road safety organisations to address all 17 recommendations. This includes supporting pre-test interventions through a new online resource launched last October by Road Safety Scotland. Entitled 'Get into Gear', it offers support for people who deliver Young Driver Interventions.

On May 11 2011, Scotland showed its support for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety by holding an event in central Edinburgh under the Junior Road Safety Officer (JRSO) All Together for Road Safety banner. A poster competition on the JRSO site invited JRSOs from primary schools across Scotland to submit their design based on a global road safety theme. The ten winning posters will be used to promote the Decade of Action over the coming years. In December this year, 'JRSO All Together for Road Safety' was awarded a Prince Michael of Kent International Road Safety award. This was just one of the many awards given to Scottish road safety initiatives during 2011.

Over the last year, we saw further evidence of collaborative partnerships working. This included working with the private sector, including our support for a Coca Cola sponsored event to encourage responsible driver behaviour during the festive season.

Much has been achieved, but there is still more to do, particularly in respect of the safety our children and young and inexperienced drivers. Thank you for your efforts over the past year and I look forward to continued excellent support from all our partners and the best efforts of all road users to Go Safe on Scotland's Roads.

Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Housing and Transport