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CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Road Safety in Scotland
1.1 Road accidents are estimated to cost Scotland over £1 billion per year. Although Scotland's roads are amongst the safest in the world - and are becoming safer - there were 314 deaths and 17,135 total casualties on Scotland's road in 2006 1. While the overall trend in accident numbers is downward, there were 28 more people killed on Scotland's roads in 2006 than in 2005. Fatal accidents not only have a significant and traumatic effect on the friends and relatives of the deceased but also have a major impact on Scottish society as a whole 2.
1.2 Road safety is an issue which affects everyone in Scotland. People need to use the roads to get around as drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. Roughly two-thirds of people aged 17+ hold a full driving licence and there are in excess of 2 million licensed vehicles on Scotland's roads. Driving is an every day activity for many in the population 3 and it is essential therefore that Scotland's roads can be used safely.
1.3 Speaking at RoSPA's (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) Road Safety Congress in Glasgow in 2008 MSP Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, stated:
"There are still far too many people dying on Scotland's roads. We must look at new ways of getting road safety messages across to drivers of all ages if we are to stop more families suffering the tragedy of a loved on being lost. To do that, we need engagement from everyone in Scotland - from drivers, to road safety experts, the police, young people and others"4
1.4 One of the Scottish Government's Strategic Objectives is to ensure communities are safer, and improving road safety is an important element of making communities safer places to live.
Road Safety Targets
1.5 In 2000, the UK Government, in association with the Scottish and Welsh devolved administrations, published 'Tomorrow's roads - safer for everyone' - a strategy designed to reduce the number of road casualties, alongside targets for casualty reductions in the period to 2010. In Scotland, excellent progress has been made towards achieving the targets set in 2000. By 2006 there was a reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured (-39%); the number of children killed or seriously injured (-56%) and the 'slight' casualty rate had declined by 30% since 1994-1998.
1.6 However, casualties among certain types of road user have not fallen as much as would have been hoped and, in some cases, have increased from the 1994-98 level. Indeed, while a review of the strategy (published in February 2007 by the UK Government) reported good progress amongst all targets, the review also reported some areas of concern - the most pressing of these was the slow progress in reducing the number of deaths.
DEVELOPMENT OF A ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY
1.7 The Scottish Government is committed to making the roads in Scotland safer. To demonstrate this commitment, the Scottish Government has set up a panel of experts to provide advice on road safety issues to the Minister and advise on further measures which will build on existing good practice and address areas of concern. Minister for Transport Stewart Stevenson explains:
"The expert group I have announced today are some of the leading thinkers on road safety in this country. They are from a range of different backgrounds, and they will help us explore the options available to us all to try and halt the death toll on Scotland's roads…We are absolutely committed to doing all we can to improve road safety across Scotland"5
1.8 In its commitment to making the roads in Scotland safer for everyone, the Scottish Government will develop a strategy for improving road safety for the next 10 years. An internal steering group, consisting of relevant Scottish Government policy and delivery staff, has been established to inform and help deliver the new strategy. The Scottish Road Safety consultation introduces 5 themes and sets out key issues affecting road safety in Scotland, seeking views on how to build on existing good practice and help plan the best way forward. It is anticipated that the Strategy will be published in Autumn 2008.
1.9 As part of the development of the Scottish Road Safety Strategy, the Transport Directorate of the Scottish Government undertook a 12 week consultation process to obtain the views of individuals and organisations that have an interest in/remit for road safety in Scotland.
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