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4. Reported numbers of Casualties by Severity (Table 2)
4.1 In 2008, 272 people were killed in road accidents in Scotland, 9 (3%) fewer than 2007 and the lowest since current records began more than 50 years ago. Since 1978, there has been a clear, steady long-term downward trend. More recent years' figures appear to have been fluctuating around a less pronounced downward trend.
4.2 In 2008 there were 2,535 seriously injured in road accidents: 150 (6%) more than in 2007 and the first increase since 1998. The long-term trend however, has generally been downward since the early 1980s.
4.3 There were 12,756 people reported as slightly injured in 2008 which was 810 (6%) fewer than in 2007. This is the lowest number recorded since 1953. Between 1970 and the late 1990s, the figures fluctuated between 17,000 and 21,000. However, the reductions in figures every year since 1997 suggest a clear downward trend.
Table 2: Casualties by Severity, 1950 - 2008
| Killed | Serious injury | Killed and Serious | Slight injury | All Severities |
|---|
1950 | 529 | 4,553 | 5,082 | 10,774 | 15,856 |
|---|
1955 | 610 | 5,096 | 5,706 | 15,193 | 20,899 |
|---|
1960 | 648 | 6,632 | 7,280 | 19,035 | 26,315 |
|---|
1965 | 743 | 8,744 | 9,487 | 22,340 | 31,827 |
|---|
1970 | 815 | 10,027 | 10,842 | 20,398 | 31,240 |
|---|
1975 | 769 | 8,779 | 9,548 | 19,073 | 28,621 |
|---|
1980 | 700 | 8,839 | 9,539 | 19,747 | 29,286 |
|---|
1985 | 602 | 7,786 | 8,388 | 18,899 | 27,287 |
|---|
1986 | 601 | 7,422 | 8,023 | 18,094 | 26,117 |
|---|
1987 | 556 | 6,707 | 7,263 | 17,485 | 24,748 |
|---|
1988 | 554 | 6,732 | 7,286 | 18,139 | 25,425 |
|---|
1989 | 553 | 6,998 | 7,551 | 19,981 | 27,532 |
|---|
1990 | 546 | 6,252 | 6,798 | 20,430 | 27,228 |
|---|
1991 | 491 | 5,638 | 6,129 | 19,217 | 25,346 |
|---|
1992 | 463 | 5,176 | 5,639 | 18,534 | 24,173 |
|---|
1993 | 399 | 4,454 | 4,853 | 17,561 | 22,414 |
|---|
1994 | 363 | 5,208 | 5,571 | 17,002 | 22,573 |
|---|
1995 | 409 | 4,930 | 5,339 | 16,855 | 22,194 |
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1996 | 357 | 4,041 | 4,398 | 17,318 | 21,716 |
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1997 | 377 | 4,047 | 4,424 | 18,205 | 22,629 |
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1998 | 385 | 4,072 | 4,457 | 18,010 | 22,467 |
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1999 | 310 | 3,765 | 4,075 | 16,927 | 21,002 |
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2000 | 326 | 3,568 | 3,894 | 16,622 | 20,516 |
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2001 | 348 | 3,410 | 3,758 | 16,150 | 19,908 |
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2002 | 304 | 3,229 | 3,533 | 15,742 | 19,275 |
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2003 | 336 | 2,958 | 3,294 | 15,461 | 18,755 |
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2004 | 308 | 2,766 | 3,074 | 15,427 | 18,501 |
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2005 | 286 | 2,665 | 2,951 | 14,933 | 17,884 |
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2006 | 314 | 2,628 | 2,942 | 14,324 | 17,266 |
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2007 | 281 | 2,385 | 2,666 | 13,566 | 16,232 |
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2008 prov. | 272 | 2,535 | 2,807 | 12,756 | 15,563 |
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1994 - 1998 average | 378 | 4,460 | 4,838 | 17,478 | 22,316 |
|---|
2008 percentage change: |
|---|
on 2007 | -3% | 6% | 5% | -6% | -4% |
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on 94-98 average | -28% | -43% | -42% | -27% | -30% |
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1. Figures for 2007 and earlier years may differ slightly to those previously published due to late returns, or corrections to earlier returns.
2. Although records of the numbers of casualties began in 1950, the number of injury road accidents weren't collected until 1970.
4.4 There were a total of 15,563 casualties (of all severities) reported in 2008: 669 (4%) lower than in 2007 and the lowest since 1950. Between around 1970 and 1990, the figures fluctuated around a general downward trend, with numbers falling from the short-term peak in 1989 & 1990 (of over 27,000). Since 1998, there has been a consistent reduction every year, with numbers dropping below 20,000 in 2000 - the first for almost 50 years.
Figure 1: Killed from 1950 - 2008
Figure 2: Killed & seriously injured casualties and seriously injured casualties, 1950 - 2008
Figure 3: All casualties and slightly injured casualties, 1950 - 2008
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