Road Accident Scotland 2007 updates road casualty and accident figures published in June. It also provides more detailed analysis of the statistics, including comparisons with other countries, drink-drive estimates and analysis of factors which may have contributed to road accidents.
Due to a late update to the statistics, the publication consists of a series of web tables instead of the usual hard copy publication. This was to ensure the trends reflect the most up to date statistics available.
Download excel tables
The main points from the statistics are outlined below.
Road casualties
- 281 deaths on Scotland's roads in 2007 - 11% less than in 2006, the lowest figure since records began;
- 25% reduction in road fatalities since 1997 - from 377 to 281 in 2007;
- 2,375 seriously injured in 2007 - 11% fewer than in 2006, and the lowest number since records began in 1950;
- 40% reduction in killed and seriously injured casualties since 1997 - from 4,424 to 2,656 in 2007;
- a total of 16,163 reported casualties in 2007 - 6% fewer than in 2006 and a 29% reduction on 1997 (22,629).
Road accidents
- 12,441 injury accidents in 2007 - 5% fewer than in 2006 and the lowest number since accident records began in 1966;
- 255 fatal accidents - 13% less than in 2006 (note that a fatal accident may involve more than one fatality).
- Since 1997, road accidents have fallen by 25% whilst road traffic volume increased by 16%.
Progress towards the road casualty reduction targets for 2010
Compared with the baseline averages for 1994-98, in 2007:
- 45% fewer people were killed or seriously injured, a larger reduction than the 2010 target of 40%;
- 67% fewer children were killed or seriously injured, a larger reduction than the 2010 target of 50%;
- the slight casualty rate (per 100 million vehicle kilometres) was 35% lower, a larger reduction than the 2010 target of 10%.
Drink-driving
- 980 casualties (including 30 fatalities) estimated to be due to drink-drive accidents in 2006 (the latest year available), 16% fewer than in 1996.
- in 2007, 3.8 per cent of drivers involved in injury accidents who were asked for a breath test registered a positive reading or refused to take the test;
Country comparisons
- in 2007, Scotland's casualty rates (per population) were 11% higher (killed), 1% lower (killed and serious) and 27% lower (all severities) than England and Wales: all of which represent an improvement on 1994-98 averages;
- Scotland's overall road death rate of 61 per million population was the tenth lowest of the 39 countries for which figures are available; (2006 being the latest available data)
Contributory Factors
The Contributory Factors most often reported for fatal accidents were:
- loss of control - 40% of all fatal accidents for which Contributory Factors were recorded;
- travelling too fast for the conditions - 18%;
- driver/rider failed to look properly - 18%;
- driver/rider careless / reckless / in a hurry - 15%;
- poor turn or manoeuvre - 12%;
- exceeding speed limit - 11%.
Accident costs
- The estimated total cost of all road accidents (including damage only accidents) at 2007 prices fell by 9%, from £1,631 million in 2006 to £1,487 million.