Scotland's Road Safety Framework To 2020 Annual Report 2012
Foreword
This is the fourth annual report for Scotland's Road Safety Framework. Since the Framework was published on 15 June 2009, I believe that the focus on achieving specific targets for reductions in road casualties by 2020 has given a renewed clarity of purpose to all of those involved in our Road Safety Partnership in Scotland.
Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2011 was published on 24 October 2012. It is encouraging to report that once again we have seen overall numbers of casualties on Scotland's roads go down to the lowest level since records began. So yes, fewer people are dying or being injured on Scotland's roads. That is indeed something we should all be glad of. However, whilst there is a single death on our roads, there is always more we must do to make Scotland's road safer than they are.
As always, my thanks are due to all our road safety partners for their leadership and support. In Scotland, our Partnership approach has continued to prove its effectiveness throughout 2012. Here are just a few examples of what's been happening this year:
The Scotland Act passed into law on 1 June, with drink-drive powers being passed to Scottish Ministers on 3 July. We have now completed a public consultation on our proposal to reduce the drink-drive limit from 80mg to 50 mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, with a view to introducing legislation this year if appropriate. I believe this proposed change will save lives.
Powers over national speed limits were also devolved. We have no current plans to change speed limits, but the Scottish Government was concerned at the various proposals to change speed limits from the UK Government and wanted to be in control of our own decisions on these important matters. Now we can make our own decisions based on our own priorities and policies.
In March I convened a special cycling-focussed meeting of the Road Safety Operational Partnership Group (OPG). The event brought together a range of bodies including local authorities, the emergency services and cycling stakeholders organisations (including Cycling Scotland and Sustrans), to discuss ways of increasing safety on the roads. One of the outcomes of that was the establishment of the first Scottish Vulnerable Road Users' Forum.
I was glad to hear that Aberdeenshire Council were honoured with an award at the National Transport Awards 2012, held in London on 11 October. They received the top honour in the Most Effective Road Safety, Traffic Management & Enforcement Project category. I understand it is the first time that a Scottish local authority has won an accolade at the National Transport Awards. It's particularly pleasing to note that in the submission to the awards, the council's Transport Team highlighted work being carried out through the innovative Joint Road Safety Plan, working in partnership with Aberdeen City Council and Moray Council.
Elsewhere, one of our key partners, RoSPA, has been leading on the development of Scottish qualifications for road safety professionals - a suite of SQA / RoSPA accredited awards. These include the "Get Into Gear" module, which offers training in the use of the Get Into Gear educational resources, which are aimed at 5th and 6th year school year pupils. The course is delivered through a combination of open learning in the workplace, face to face tutorials / seminars and practical exercises. The course is currently comprised of two SQA credit rated awards. It is anticipated that there will be a third level at a future date. This is in development and will be at a more advanced level.
I believe it is important that we continue to look at new ways of ensuring the safety of young drivers. That is why in 2012 I wrote to Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport, setting out the case in favour of the introduction of some form of Graduated Driving Licence for the UK. I hope it will be possible to make some progress in that direction in 2013.
We must remember that all interventions can play their part in saving lives, and each partner matters equally. This partnership approach relies on all of us working together to deliver the Framework commitments. Much has been achieved, but there is still more to do, particularly for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. 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 Transport and Veterans