Foreword

Foreword

This is the fifth annual report for Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020 since the Framework was published on 15 June 2009. A lot has happened in 2013, and it has been a challenging year for all of those involved in road safety in Scotland. The past year has brought with it significant change, not least in the shape of police reform, with the creation of Police Scotland - the new single police service for Scotland. We've also seen the formation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and, in addition, a review of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme is now underway, and is due to report in Spring 2014. I have been impressed by the way that all our road safety partnerships have demonstrated the capacity to cope with change where it has been necessary. That capacity will continue to be needed during the coming year and beyond.

Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2012 was published on 23 October 2013. It is certainly good news that again overall numbers of casualties on Scotland's roads have gone down. However, road casualty figures rose amongst cyclists, and more pedestrians died on our roads in 2012 than in 2011. Figures for motorcyclists also included some bad news, with an increase in serious injuries. This serves to remind us all that we need to focus more on finding ways to keep the most vulnerable road users safer.

However, in seeking to continue delivering the 96 commitments in Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020, I know our partners around Scotland have remained as active in 2013 as they have ever been.

National targeted road safety campaigns developed and run by Road Safety Scotland, in collaboration with the Scottish Government Marketing Team, are central to our approach to improving road safety in Scotland. In 2013, Road Safety Scotland (RSS) continued to innovate, with the "Kids in the Car" campaign seeking to encourage parents, as drivers, to provide a better role model for their children. Additionally, RSS continued its focus on drink-driving and on rural roads. I offer my congratulations to RSS on receiving a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for this year's "Country Roads Campaign" which was fronted by David Coulthard.

Congratulations also go to the Community Safety Partnerships in Fife and South Ayrshire, who were both successful at this year's Safer Community Awards, Fife for "Safe Drive Stay Alive" and South Ayrshire for "Reckless Driving Wrecks Lives".

I was really pleased to see the positive outcome shown in the final report - part-funded by Transport Scotland (TS) - from City of Edinburgh Council's 20 mph limit pilot, and I hope other local authorities will take note of this.

Where appropriate, 20 mph zones and limits are a good way of helping to make our streets safer for vulnerable road users.

Elsewhere it is encouraging to see innovation from Glasgow City Council which, in 2013, started to develop its programme to improve occupational road safety amongst local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) "Drive Safe It's Your Business", which is part-funded by Transport Scotland.

RSS's Annual Seminar took place at the Marriott Dalmahoy, on 23 and 24 October 2013. This is the key event in the road safety calendar in Scotland, as it brings together representatives from all the organisations who are our partners in the delivery of the Framework. I understand that two of the presentations given at this event were on the subject of drink-driving. Over the last five years for which data is available, the average number of annual Scottish fatalities due to drink-drive accidents is around 30.

Scottish Ministers' consultation on a proposed reduction in the drink-drive limit from 80mg to 50mg in 100ml of blood showed overwhelming support for plans to lower the drink drive limit. This year we have been working with the UK Government to resolve practical issues before a lower limit can be brought in, and we will continue to do so. Once these matters have been progressed, we will ask the Scottish Parliament to approve regulations to lower the limit.

In this year's Road Safety Framework Annual Report you will find a diverse range of material; reports and updates on partners' activity, news on policy development and on plans for European, UK and Scottish legislation. I offer my thanks and appreciation to all the people who have been and continue to be involved in the delivery of this work. In order for us to continue our progress towards our ambitious casualty reduction targets, we need to remember that all of this work is important, because all of it makes a contribution to the saving of lives - it's never just one intervention that does it. We must have faith in our people and confidence that our co-ordinated partnership approach is the right one. If we do, I believe we can ensure that all road users are able to "Go Safe on Scotland's Roads" in the years to 2020 and beyond.

Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Transport and Veterans