Downward trend in Scotland’s road casualties ‘good news’ says IAM Roadsmart

Independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has responded to Transport Scotland’s release of provisional headline figures for road casualties in Scotland, saying it is good news that the long term downward trends in deaths and serious injuries on Scotland’s roads continue but the figures are still far too high. The figures for road casualties reported to the police in Scotland in 2015 show that the total number of casualties fell by three per cent between 2014 and 2015 from 11,307 to 10,950, to the lo
June 30, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has responded to 505 Transport Scotland’s release of provisional headline figures for road casualties in Scotland, saying it is good news that the long term downward trends in deaths and serious injuries on Scotland’s roads continue but the figures are still far too high.

The figures for road casualties reported to the police in Scotland in 2015 show that the total number of casualties fell by three per cent between 2014 and 2015 from 11,307 to 10,950, to the lowest number since records began. The number of people seriously injured also decreased by six per cent to 1,597.

The figures also show that in 2015 there were 974 child casualties in reported road accidents, a decrease of six per cent since 2014. This included five fatalities, two fewer than 2014 and 140 children who were seriously injured, down from 172 in 2014.

There were three fewer pedal cyclists killed than in 2014 and 18 fewer pedestrian fatalities. There were also three fewer motorcyclists killed and 22 fewer car user fatalities.

2015 saw a six per cent reduction in car users seriously injured and motor cyclist serious injuries fell by 22 per cent. Pedestrian and other modes of transport also saw decreases in the number of people seriously injured. However, the number of bus and coach users seriously injured increased from 28 to 49 and pedal cyclists seriously injured from 159 to 164 between 2014 and 2015.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research said: “With over three deaths a week it is essential that the Scottish government continues its successful partnership approach to road safety in which IAM RoadSmart plays an important part.

“Joint working and clear targets are clearly having a positive impact. Continued investment in better roads, plus recent suggestions that Scotland might finally introduce speed awareness courses and drug-driving laws mean the country is well placed to make further gains.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ‘Risky tailgating and speeding rife on UK motorways’
    May 22, 2014
    Six in ten UK drivers own up to risky tailgating (57 per cent) and a similar proportion break the limit by 10mph or more (60 per cent) on motorways and 70mph dual carriageways, with men by far the worst offenders, a survey by Brake and insurance company Direct Line reveals. Almost all drivers say they worry about other drivers tailgating on motorways: 95 per cent are at least occasionally concerned about vehicles too close behind them; more than four in ten (44 per cent) are concerned every, or most, tim
    Read More
  • IAM welcomes consultation on strict penalties for mobile use at wheel
    January 27, 2016
    The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has welcomed the Department for Transport’s (DfT) public consultation on stricter penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving. The DfT is looking for feedback on proposals for increasing the fixed penalty notice level from £100 to £150 for all drivers. It also invites views on increasing the penalty points from three to four points for non-HGV drivers, and three to six points for those that hold a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) licence and commit t
    Read More
  • Vision Zero is working says New York mayor, announces more funding
    January 22, 2016
    According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, 2015 was officially the safest year on New York City streets since record-keeping began in 1910, thanks to the city’s Vision Zero program.He said the 231 traffic fatalities in 2015 are 66 lower than the 297 fatalities that occurred in 2013, the year before Vision Zero began. Pedestrian deaths, a historic low of 134 in 2015, fell 27 per cent during that period. The previous lows were 2011 with 249 traffic fatalities and 2014 with 139 pedestrian fatalities.
    Read More
  • UN chief highlights road safety
    November 21, 2012
    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has highlighted the importance of road safety in preventing more than one million people from dying and many more from getting injured each year in traffic accidents. “This year, the world's roads have claimed some 1.2 million lives,” Mr. Ban said in his message marking World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. “Added to the fatalities are the more than 50 million people injured each year – many of them now condemned to enduring physical disabilities and psychologic
    Read More

Highlighted Content