Key 2007 Road Accident Statistics

4. Reported numbers of Casualties by Severity (Table 2)

4.1 In 2007, 282 people were killed in road accidents in Scotland, 32 (10%) fewer than 2006 and the lowest since current records began more than 50 years ago. Since 1978, there has been a clear, steady long-term downward trend. More recent years' figures appear to have been fluctuating around a less pronounced downward trend.

4.2 In 2007 there were 2,316 seriously injured in road accidents: 310 (12%) fewer than in 2006, the lowest since records started in 1950. Since the early 1980s, the long-term trend has generally been downward, and a steady reduction since 1998.

4.3 There were 13,465 people reported as slightly injured in 2007 which was 858 (6%) fewer than in 2006. This is the lowest number recorded since 1953. Between 1970 and the late 1990s, the figures fluctuated between 17,000 and 21,000. However, the reductions in figures every year since 1997 suggest a clear downward trend.

Table 2: Casualties by Severity, 1950 - 2007

1. Figures for 2006 and earlier years may differ slightly to those previously published due to late returns, or corrections to earlier returns.

2. Although records of the numbers of casualties began in 1950, the number of injury road accidents weren't collected until 1970.

4.4 There were a total of 16,063 casualties (of all severities) reported in 2007: 1,200 (7%) lower than in 2006 and the lowest since 1950. Between around 1970 and 1990, the figures fluctuated around a general downward trend, with numbers falling from the short-term peak in 1989 & 1990 (of over 27,000). Since 1998, there has been a consistent reduction every year, with numbers dropping below 20,000 in 2000 - the first for almost 50 years.

Figure 1: Killed from 1950 to 2007

Figure 2: Killed & Seriously injured casualties and Seriously injured casualties, 1950 - 2007

Figure 3: All casualties and Slightly injured casualties, 1950 - 2007