Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2012

Main Findings

Road casualties

• 12,676 reported casualties in total in 2012 - 1% fewer than in 2011 (12,777) and a 34% reduction on 2002 (19,275) and the lowest figure since records began;
• 174 people killed on Scotland's roads in 2012 - 6% fewer than in 2011 (185), 43% fewer than 2002 (304);
• 1,974 reported seriously injured in 2012 - 5% more than in 2011 (1,877), 39% fewer than 2002 (3,229);
• 1,164 child casualties, 12% fewer than in 2011 (1,316) and 58% fewer than 2002 (2,745)
• 2 child fatalities in 2012, 5 less than 2011 and an average of 4 over the last three years.

Scotland’s road safety framework casualty reduction targets to 2020

Casualty numbers continue to fall. Compared with the baseline averages for 2004-08, in 2012:

• 40% fewer people were killed;
• 24% fewer people were seriously injured;
• The number of children killed is relatively small and the average of 4 over the last 3 years is well below the baseline of 15;
• 40% fewer children seriously injured;
• the slight casualty rate (per 100 million vehicle kms) was 26% lower.

Road accidents

• 9,747 reported injury accidents in 2012 - 2% fewer than in 2011 and the lowest number since accident records began in 1966;
• 160 fatal accidents in 2012 - 9% fewer than in 2011 (note that a fatal accident may involve more than one fatality).
• Since 2002, reported injury road accidents have fallen by 32% whilst road traffic volume increased by 5%.

Types of road users

• 7,647 car user casualties in 2012, 2% fewer than 2011 and 35% less than 2002;
  Including 73 fatalities (18% fewer than 2011) and 845 seriously injured (12% more than 2011).
  Distance travelled by car increased by 1% between 2011 and 2012 and 2% since 2002.
• 1,969 pedestrian casualties in 2012, 4% less than 2011 and 41% less than 2002;
  Including 57 fatalities (33% more than 2011) and 460 seriously injured (11% less than 2011). The National Travel Survey suggests distance walked has been falling since 2002.
• 901 pedal cyclist casualties in 2012, 9% more than 2011 and 9% more than 2002;
  Including 9 fatalities (two more than 2011) and 167 seriously injured (7% more than 2011).
  Distance travelled by pedal cycle increased by 2% between 2011 and 2012 and by 24% since 2002.
• 865 motorcyclist casualties in 2012, 7% more than 2011 and 26% lower than 2002;
  Including 21 fatalities (36% fewer than 2011) and 342 seriously injured (17% more than 2011).
  Distance travelled by motorcycle fell by 2% between 2011 and 2012 and has fallen 1% since 2002.
• Young male car drivers (aged 17-25) were more likely to be involved in road accidents, though the accident rates are reducing. In 2012 the accident rate for young drivers was 1.7 times the accident rate of car drivers of all ages (4.6 per thousand population vs. 2.7 per thousand population). This is a reduction from 2.24 times the accident rate for all drivers in 2004-2008.

Types of road

• 63% of all road deaths (109 out of 174) in 2012 occurred on roads in non-built up areas (i.e. speed limit greater than 40 mph). These roads account for around 70% of traffic;
• 53% of people who were seriously injured (1,043 out of 1,974) were involved in accidents on built-up roads;

Comparison with England and Wales

• Relative to England & Wales, Scotland’s casualty rates (per population) remain:
  higher for fatalities;
  similar for serious injuries, with 2012 rates the same as England and Wales
  lower for all severities.

Comparison with countries in Western Europe and elsewhere

• Road fatality rate: Scotland (32 per million population) had the 9th lowest rate of the 40 countries for which figures are available; (2012);
• Pedestrian fatality rate: Scotland (8 per million population) had the 12th lowest rate (of 39 countries); (2011 latest year available).
• Child fatality rate: Scotland (7 per million population aged under 15) had the 8th lowest rate (of 36 countries for which figures are available); (2011 is the latest year available).
• Scotland has the second lowest young adult fatality rate (48 per million for ages 15-24), out of the 30 countries for which figures are available; (2011 latest year available).
• 65+ fatality rate: Scotland (46 per million population aged 65+) had the 5th lowest rate (of 30 countries); (2011 latest year available).

Drink-driving

• 680 casualties (5% of all reported casualties) were estimated to be due to drink-drive accidents in Scotland in 2011 (the latest year available), the same level as in GB as a whole, and a fall of 43% since 2001 (from 1,190).
• Around 20 fatalities (11% of all reported fatalities) were estimated to be due to drink-drive accidents in Scotland in 2011, similar to GB as a whole. The same as 2010 and the average for the last five years remains at 30 fatalities.
• In 2012, 3.1% of drivers involved in injury accidents who were asked for a breath test registered a positive reading or refused to take the test, down from an average of 3.8% in 2004-2008.

Accident costs

• The estimated total cost of all road accidents (including damage only accidents) fell by 1%, from £1,171 million in 2011 to £1,160 million in 2012 (in 2012 prices).