This bulletin presents provisional statistics of road accidents in which people were killed or injured (“injury road accidents”) in Scotland in 2004, which were extracted from the Road Accidents statistical database on 11 May 2005. The final totals for 2004, which will appear later, in “Road Accidents Scotland 2004”, may differ slightly from the figures given here, due to (e.g.) late returns and amendments. For similar reasons, the figures which appear here for 2003 and earlier years may differ slightly from those published previously. The provisional total number of people killed in road accidents in Scotland in 2004 was 307: a decrease of 24 (7%) over the figure for 2003, and the second lowest total since current records began more than fifty years ago. There was a provisional total of 2,712 people recorded as seriously injured in road accidents in 2004, 235 (8%) fewer than in 2003, and the lowest figure since records of the numbers of serious injuries began in 1950. The provisional figure of 15,227 people recorded as slightly injured in 2004 was 219 (1%) fewer than in 2003, and the lowest number since 1955. The provisional total number of casualties in 2004 was 18,246, which was 478 (3%) lower than in 2003, and the lowest figure since 1953. There was a provisional total of 3,019 people killed or seriously injured in 2004, 38% (1,819) below the 1994-98 average of 4,838, so the 2010 target fall of 40% has almost been achieved. The provisional total of 381 children killed or seriously injured in 2004 was 55% (461) below the 1994-98 average of 842, so the 2010 target of a 50% reduction has already been achieved. At the time of writing, 2003 is the latest year for which there is an estimate of the total volume of traffic for Scotland as a whole. The slight casualty rate of 36.74 casualties per 100 million vehicle kilometres in 2003 was 21% below the 1994-98 baseline average of 46.42, so the 2010 target of a 10% reduction has already been achieved. Accidents on roads in non built-up areas accounted for over two thirds (69%) of all those killed in Scotland, compared with about two fifths (43%) of the total number of casualties, perhaps because average speeds are higher on such roads. A provisional total of 11,450 car users were injured in road accidents in 2004, 168 of whom died (9% less than the previous year). There were 3,031 pedestrian casualties including 75 killed (19% more than the previous year). Perhaps because of their greater vulnerability, 24% of all pedestrian casualties were either killed or seriously injured, whereas only 14% of car users were killed or seriously injured. There were provisional totals of 977 motorcyclist casualties, 909 bus and coach user casualties and 764 pedal cyclists casualties in 2004. The provisional total of 2,358 child casualties in 2004 was 118 (5%) fewer than in 2003. They included 12 killed: 5 deaths fewer than in 2003. Casualties by severity, by type of road, and by mode of transport are given. Sources and definitions are provided.
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