The number of people killed on Scotland's roads rose slightly last year, according to official figures.

Statistics from the Scottish Executive for 2001 showed that there were just under 20,000 casualties - a 3% drop on the previous year and the lowest number in almost 50 years.

Although the number of deaths rose by 6%, to 347, Scotland still has the second lowest number of fatalities per head of population in western Europe.

Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald said he was concerned at the slight rise in road deaths.

Maybe the road safety message is becoming stale, maybe we need to look at a different approach

Mike McDonnell, RoSPA

He said there could be no room for complacency, particularly during the festive season when drivers might be more tempted to risk driving when over the limit.

Mr Macdonald said: "Although progress has
been made in making our roads safer, despite considerable increases in the volume of traffic, much work remains to be done."

The executive figures show:

• 347 people died on Scotland's roads in 2001, 6% more than in 2000

• 19,894 casualties in total - 3% fewer than in 2000 and the lowest figure since 1954

• 543 children seriously injured, of whom 20 died (one fewer than in 2000)

• 3,406 people were seriously injured - 4% fewer than in 2000 and the lowest number since records began in 1950

• 16,141 people were slightly injured, 3% lower than the previous year's number

• Between 1951 and 2001, almost 31,700 people were killed and just under 1.3m were injured on Scotland's roads.

Mike McDonnell, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said the figures were "disappointing" and called on the executive to rethink its road safety strategy to prevent further rises.

He said: "It's very sad to see the figures going up again after 2000, when we were congratulating ourselves on an all time low.

"It would be nice to think it was just a blip but we cannot be complacent.

'New approach'

"Maybe the road safety message is becoming stale, maybe we need to look again at a different approach."

Mr Macdonald said: "The executive will continue its drive to make the roads safer for everyone, but especially the most vulnerable, such as children, pedestrians and cyclists."

The minister said the figures represented "significant progress" towards achieving executive targets for a 40% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries and a 50% reduction in those figures for children by 2010.