6. Casualties by Mode of Transport (Table 3)

6.1 Figures on numbers of casualties by mode should be compared with data on mode use, for example as published in the road traffic or personal travel sections of Scottish Transport Statistics. Traffic estimates in table 5.2 show car traffic volumes fell by 3 per cent between 2007 and 2010.Over the same period cycling volumes increased by 24 per cent.Data for 2011 will be published in August as part of Transport and Travel in Scotland.

6.2 In 2011 there were 7,768 car users reported injured in road accidents; almost two thirds of all casualties (61%: 7,768 out of 12,763) and a 6 per cent fall on 2010. Of these, of 89 were killed and 756 seriously injured (decreases of 15% and 16% on 2010 respectively). Non built-up roads accounted for over half of all car user casualties (52%: 4,011 out of 7,768) but a much higher percentage of car user fatalities (87%: 77 out of 89) or those seriously injured (72%: 548 out of 756). Again likely due to higher average speeds on these types of roads.

6.3 There were 2,057 pedestrian casualties recorded in 2011: a sixth of all casualties (16%: 2,057 out of 12,763). Perhaps because of the greater vulnerability of pedestrians, 2 per cent of pedestrian casualties were killed (43 out of 2,057) and 25 per cent seriously injured (512 out of 2,057). On the other hand 1 per cent of all car users were killed (89 out of 7,768) and 10 per cent were seriously injured (756 out of 7,768). 95 per cent of pedestrian casualties occurred on built-up roads (1,955 out of 2,057). 35 per cent of pedestrian casualties on non built-up roads were seriously injured (36 out of 102) compared with 24 per cent on built-up roads (476 out of 1,955).

6.4 Together, all other modes of transport accounted for a fifth (23%) of casualties in 2011 (2,938 out of 12,763) and for a roughly similar proportion of the total number of seriously injured (32%: 605 out of 1,873). In 2011, 807 motor cycle casualties were reported (4% fewer than 2010), of whom 292 (36%) suffered serious injuries (33 died). There were 824 pedal cyclist casualties recorded in 2011, 6 per cent more than in 2010. 156 (19%) of them were seriously injured (7 died). A total of 502 bus and coach users were reported injured, of whom 50 were seriously injured (one died) - these low proportions presumably being due to the greater protection of their passengers by buses and coaches. The number of bus and coach user casualties fell by 7 per cent in 2011.