Transport Minister comments on road casualties statistics

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said:

“It’s disappointing that there has been an increase in the number of fatalities and the number of people seriously injured on our roads in 2016. The Scottish Government and our road safety partners will redouble our efforts in order to reach our ambitious and challenging casualty reduction targets set out in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020. At the same time we all need to take responsibility for protecting ourselves and other road users when using the road network.

“The longer term downward trends are positive and show that we are making good progress towards meeting our targets and the annual decline in the total number of casualties, to the lowest level since records began, is encouraging. However, I am resolute in my determination to save lives and to meet the ultimate vision set out in the Framework, where no-one is killed on Scotland’s roads.

“In March last year the mid-term review of the Framework identified speed and motorcyclists; pre-drivers, drivers aged 17-25 and older drivers; pedestrians and cyclists as priority areas and together with our partners we continue to work on a raft of measures to improve road safety. I plan to meet with representatives of cycling organisations tomorrow to discuss what more we can do to make our roads as safe as possible for cyclists and all road users.

“We are currently supporting the Seatbelts on School Transport (Scotland) Bill through Parliament to keep our children safe on the journey to and from school. In addition, the average speed camera system on the A9 continues to show a marked, and sustained, improvement in driver behaviour, coupled with a reduction in casualties and collisions. The outcomes delivered on the A9 give us confidence that the average speed camera system on the A90 due to go-live in the Autumn will be just as successful.”