The executive has set new road safety targets

It also compares the Scottish figures with those for England and Wales, as well as a number of other developed countries.

The figures also show that targets for reducing the number of road casualties have been met.

An executive spokeswoman said: "I don't think there is any single reason.

"It would be the cumulative effect of initiatives, including increased driver education and police campaigns against speeding."

The figures revealed:

• In 1999 there were 15,398 accidents in which a total of 20,976 people were injured

• Of these, 3757 were seriously injured while 310 people were killed

• There were 3,193 child casualties, of which 25 died

• Between 1989 and 1999 the number of road deaths fell by 44% from 553 to 310

• In the same period, child casualties fell by 29%, from 4,506 to 3,193

• In 1999, compared with the 1981-1985 averages, 52% fewer people were killed, serious injuries were 54% lower, and slight injuries fell by 7%

The executive said the figures were even more significant when compared to the 50% increase in licensed vehicles over the same period and the 46% increase in the volume of traffic on major roads since 1985.

A comparison of 29 countries' figures for 1998, the latest year for which they are available, showed that Scotland's overall road death rate of 75 per million population was the fourth lowest.

Scotland's pedestrian fatality rate of 19 per million population was the sixteenth lowest and similar to those of New Zealand and the USA but slightly worse than the EC average of 18.

Scotland's child fatality rate of 32 per million population was also sixteenth lowest.

Earlier this year the executive set further road traffic accident targets, including the reduction of deaths and injuries by 40% and a 50% reduction in accidents involving children, by 2010.