RISE: Deaths up second year running
Rider and cyclist deaths in Scotland have risen For the second year running, latest casualty figures have revealed – despite an overall drop in casualties.
The statistics, published by Transport Scotland, show that vulnerable road user deaths and injuries have increased, though the overall number of incidents has fell.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) claim the figures demonstrate that the need remains to protect vulnerable road users.
Nine children (five pedestrians, two cyclists and two car passengers) were tragically killed on the country’s roads in 2013 – seven more than in 2012.
Additionally, 23 motorcyclists died in Scotland last year (21 killed in 2012), although the number of riders injured fell by 11% to 770, with 279 left seriously injured.
Among pedal cyclists, there were 13 deaths in 2013, up by four on the previous year, while those injured fell by 3% to 882, of which 148 suffered serious injuries.
There was also an increase in the number of car user fatalities – up 15 to 89.
Down 9% from 2012, a total of 6,960 people were injured, 720 seriously.
Overall, there were 172 road deaths in Scotland in 2013 – six (3%) fewer than in 2012.
A total of 1,667 people were seriously injured, 315 (16%) fewer than in 2012, while 9,654 people were slightly injured – 908 (9%) less than in 2012.
There was also a welcome reduction in the number of bus and coach user casualties, only two of which proved fatal, (394 in 2013 compared to 44 in 2012).
Pedestrian casualties also fell 12% from 1,986 in 2012 to 1,744 last year.
Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety at RoSPA, said: “More needs to be done to protect vulnerable road users from injury and even death.
“With more cyclists, motorcyclists and children killed in Scotland last year than in 2012, it shows that there needs to be a real focus on making our roads safer for them to use.
“At RoSPA, a big part of our mission is to stop children being accidentally killed or injured, and we also support initiatives that seek to improve the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.
“Any work in this area can help prevent injuries and has other health advantages too.
“Scotland’s target is to reduce the number of people killed in road accidents by 2020, based on a 2004-08 baseline average, but clearly more work needs to be done in order to meet the target for vulnerable road users, such as children, cyclists and motorcyclists.”
