This bulletin presents provisional statistics of road accidents in which people were killed or injured (“injury road accidents”) in Scotland in 2005, which were extracted from the Road Accidents statistical database on 11 May 2006. The final totals for 2005, which will appear later, in “Road Accidents Scotland 2005”, 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 2004 and earlier years may differ slightly from those published previously. The provisional total number of people killed in road accidents in Scotland in 2005 was 286: 20 (7%) fewer than in 2004, and the lowest total since current records began more than fifty years ago. There was a provisional total of 2,594 people recorded as seriously injured in road accidents in 2005, 158 (6%) fewer than in 2004, and the lowest figure since records of the numbers of serious injuries began in 1950. The provisional figure of 14,912 people recorded as slightly injured in 2005 was 473 (3%) fewer than in 2004, and the lowest number since 1954. The provisional total number of casualties in 2005 was 17,792, which was 651 (4%) lower than in 2004, and the lowest figure since 1952. There was a provisional total of 2,880 people killed or seriously injured in 2005, 40% (1,958) below the 1994-98 average of 4,838, so the 2010 target fall of 40% has just been achieved. The provisional total of 360 children killed or seriously injured in 2005 was 57% (482) below the 1994-98 average of 842, so the 2010 target of a 50% reduction has already been achieved. At the time of writing, 2004 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 36.04 casualties per 100 million vehicle kilometres in 2004 was 22% 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 almost three quarters (72%) of all those killed in Scotland, compared with about two fifths (42%) of the total number of casualties, perhaps because average speeds are higher on such roads. A provisional total of 10,930 car users were injured in road accidents in 2005, 153 of whom died (8% fewer than the previous year). There were 3,048 pedestrian casualties including 66 killed (12% less than the previous year). Perhaps because of their greater vulnerability, 24% of all pedestrian casualties were either killed or seriously injured, whereas only 13% of car users were killed or seriously injured. There were provisional totals of 1,078 motorcyclist casualties, 839 bus and coach user casualties and 775 pedal cyclists casualties in 2005. The provisional total of 2,184 child casualties in 2005 was 209 (9%) fewer than in 2004. They included 11 killed: 1 death fewer than in 2004.
Samenvatting