This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Road deaths up despite long-term downward trend
23/11/2004
The Executive has pledged action after the latest
statistics confirmed a 9 per cent increase in the number of
people killed on Scotland's roads in 2003.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"Today's statistics confirm provisional figures
published in June. The final figures for 2003 confirm the
lowest number of road casualties in Scotland for 50 years
with the trend in serious injuries also down.
"However the increase in the number of deaths is a
serious concern and action needs to be taken.
"In the summer I commissioned a study to look at what,
if any common causes there might be and identify any
measures which could improve the situation. The results of
this work will be available soon.
"New investment in road improvement schemes, targeted on
accident blackspots can help to reduce the number of road
casualties. We must also continue to improve road safety
through effective education for children and drivers and
tough police enforcement.
"The message is simple. Too many people in Scotland die
needlessly each week because of dangerous and often
ignorant driving - 331 deaths is simply too many. We must
do more to tackle the problem."
Road Accidents Scotland 2003, a National Statistics
publication, shows what the long-term trend for the total
number of people killed and seriously injured was down 7%
from 3,523 in 2002 to 3,271 and last year also had the
lowest number of road casualties in Scotland for 50
years.
On March 1, 2000, the Executive, the UK Government, and
the National Assembly for Wales announced a new road safety
strategy and casualty reduction targets for 2010.
The new targets are based on annual average casualty
levels over the period 1994 to 1998, and aim for:
- a 40 per cent reduction in the number of people
killed or seriously injured in road traffic
accidents
- a 50 per cent reduction in the number of children
killed or seriously injured
- a 10 per cent reduction in the slight casualty
rate, expressed as the number of people slightly
injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres
On November 4 this year, a continuation of funding was
announced for:
- Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets, made up of
£8.87 million in 2006/07 and £9.09 million in
2007/08
- 20 mph speed limits around schools and related
safety projects, made up of £11.3 million in 2006/07
and £11.6 million in 2007/08