Scottish Road Casualties Lowest In 60 Years

Scotland's roads are the safest for 60 years, according to new statistics.

The reported number of deaths on Scotland's roads fell last year by a fifth to 216 and the total number of casualties fell by four per cent to 15,013 - the lowest since 1949.

Responding to the 2009 Reported Road Casualty statistics, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "This is a welcome drop to the lowest number of casualties for 60 years, continuing the downward trend witnessed in recent years.

"While progress in cutting casualties is evident and we have again exceeded the GB targets to reduce deaths and serious injuries, we continue to do everything we can improve road safety.

"The number of deaths, and in particular those of children, fell last year. This is an area on which we have particularly focused over the last three years and we'll continue to work with schools, councils and the police and other partners to minimise the number of children and young people involved in road accidents."

The Road Safety Framework sets distinct and challenging targets for reductions in road casualties in Scotland over the decade from 2011, after the end of the current GB targets. These are the first ever Scottish road safety targets - for a 40 per cent reduction in fatalities; 55 per cent reduction in serious injuries; a 50 per cent reduction in children killed and 65 per cent reduction in children seriously injured based on the 2004-2008 average.

(GK)