New figures show disproportionate levels of north-east road accidents
Transport Scotland statisticians have released provisional figures for road casualties showing increases in all severities in 2022.
The figures show the total number of casualties rose by 9 per cent between 2021 and 2022 (from 5111 to 5587), the third lowest number since annual records began in 1950.
One hundred and seventy four people were killed in reported road collisions in Scotland in 2022, 33 more than in 2021, and the highest number since 2016.
The number of people seriously injured was 1759 an increase of 145 (9 per cent) more than 2021.
Although the figures for serious, slight and all casualties in 2022 are higher than the previous two years where casualty numbers will have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated impacts on travel, they are still lower than those in 2019.
Compared to 2021, there were falls in reported casualties of 7 per cent for pedal cyclists and 20 per cent for both HGV and minibus users. However, there were increases in pedestrian casualties of 17 per cent, car casualties of 9 per cent and motorcyclist casualties of 2 per cent.
Figures broken down by police operating area show the greatest number of incidents around Glasgow and Edinburgh, in line with population and traffic volume, however Highland and North East sit higher than comparable areas such as Forth Valley and Fife.
By Local authority area the figure is conpounded further, with the Highlands in third and Aberdeenshire in eighth compared to Aberdeen City in 23rd.
The full statistical publication is available on the Transport Scotland website: http://bit.ly/KRRCS
Minister for Transport Kevin Stewart said: “Any increase in road deaths and injuries is deeply concerning.
"Behind every number we see in the statistics today is a loved one who is now tragically no longer with us or a life changed forever.
"To see lives cut short in this way is deeply unfair and I refuse to accept that road casualties are in some way inevitable – they are avoidable and can be stopped.
"One death on our roads is simply one too many.
“Road safety remains an absolute priority for this government and I’m determined that we continue to make investments which support our Road Safety Framework to 2030, which sets out our vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030 and an ambitious long term goal where no one is seriously injured or killed on our roads by 2050.”
Commenting on today’s release Karen McDonnell, Head of RoSPA Scotland, said: "RoSPA recognise that the Key Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2022 present total casualty figures that are the third lowest since records began, indeed since 2000, the number of people killed on Scotland’s roads had decreased by 47 per cent.
"However, there are 33 more families and communities with empty seats at their tables here in 2022.
"Whilst in compared to 2021, pedal cyclist casualties fell by 7 per cent, pedestrian casualties increased by 17 per cent, car casualties increased by 9 per cent and motorcyclists by 2 per cent.
"Scotland’s roads are a shared space, road users with greater power have greater responsibility, people walking, people cycling and people on motorcycles are vulnerable."
