 Road safety measures appear to be paying off |
The death toll on Scotland's roads is at the second lowest level for 50 years but the rate is still higher than England and Wales, a new report said. The Road Accidents report for 2004, an update on provisional figures from June, said that 306 people were killed on Scotland's roads - down 8% on 2003.
There were 2,742 people seriously injured and 15,357 "slight" casualties.
The death rate was still 10% higher than England and Wales. Scotland was 2% worse for death and serious injury.
League table
However, the figure for all severities of injury was 27% lower in Scotland than England and Wales.
The report showed Scotland to be towards the better end of the European road crash league table.
There were 383 children seriously injured and 12 killed on Scotland's roads in 2004.
According to the report, 55% fewer children were killed or seriously injured in 2004 compared with the 1994-98 averages.
The figure fulfils the Scottish Executive target of halving the number of children killed and seriously injured on the roads by 2010.
Steady progress has been made towards the target of cutting fatal and serious road accidents by 40% by 2010.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said: "We are committed to preventing even more needless deaths and injuries.
"I welcome the fact that these figures show a reduction in the number of people killed and injured on our roads.
"However, we must not be complacent. We must continue to promote safe driving through effective education, safety improvements on our roads and tougher enforcement."
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I welcome the fact that these figures show a reduction in the number of people killed
