Each year, Transport Scotland, the national agency responsible for delivering the Scottish Government's vision of transport in our country, publishes the number of reported road casualties and collisions in Scotland. They have recently published their report of road traffic statistics for 2023. The report categorises casualties by road type, mode of transport and contributing factors, as well as commenting on trends they have observed since their previous report.
Trends in the Number of Road Collisions and Casualties
155 people were killed in collisions on the road in 2023. Whilst this is 6 fewer fatalities than in 2022, this still equates to 3 deaths per week. 1,944 people were seriously injured and 3,730 were slightly injured. Concerningly, this represents a 3% increase in the total number of casualties reported in 2022. There were 151 fatal collisions, which was the same as in 2022. When reporting on statistics, Transport Scotland makes a distinction between fatal collisions and casualties. A fatal collision refers to a collision in which at least one individual has lost their life. One fatal collision may result in multiple casualties.
It is worth keeping in mind just how far we have come in terms of improving road safety. Since the 1980s, the number of fatal collisions has dropped considerably. In 1987, there were 517 reported cases. By 2021, this figure had fallen to 135, albeit it has since increased by over 10% in 2023. Nevertheless, despite this overall reduction, the death rates are worryingly high, and it is clear more must be done to improve road safety.
Mode of Transport
Transport Scotland has reported the number of casualties per mode of transport. In 2023, of the 155 reported deaths, 47 were pedestrians, seven were cyclists, 28 were motorcyclists, 61 were travelling in a car, 1 was travelling by bus/coach, with the remaining 11 travelling in other vehicles.
When compared to the 2022 figures, there was a significant increase in deaths of the most vulnerable road users. There were 34 pedestrian fatalities in 2022, and 2 cyclist fatalities. An increase to 47 and seven in 2023 is a worrying trend. In comparison, the number of deaths of those travelling in cars decreased substantially from 98 to 61.
In terms of serious injuries sustained in 2023, the report found that travelling by car was the most dangerous (with 905 reported cases), followed by pedestrians (434 cases), while travelling by bus/coach was safer (43 cases).
Tragically, the number of children aged between 0 and 15 who lost their lives increased from 3 to 5, with an increase recorded across pedestrian, cyclist and car passenger cases.
Road Type
Transport Scotland detail the number of collisions on trunk roads compared to local authority roads, both major and minor. In 2023, 47 fatal collisions were recorded on trunk roads. By comparison, 48 were recorded on major local authority roads and 58 on minor local authority roads. In 2022, there were 53 fatal collisions on major local authority roads, but 45 collisions on minor local authority roads.
Daylight and Weather
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there were 3,049 collisions reported during daylight hours when roads are busier, compared with 1,202 in the twilight hours. 2,697 collisions were reported when the weather was dry, whereas 1,442 were reported when it was damp or raining. Most would expect wet conditions to lead to more collisions, but perhaps more road users are inclined to stay home during inclement weather.
Age and Gender
Transport Scotland's figures show that, among car drivers involved in collisions, 2,994 were male while 1,986 were female. These figures and the ratio between them have remained largely unchanged in recent years.
Contributory Factors
When analysing the figures, Transport Scotland identified three main factors contributing to collisions:
- They found that driver error or delayed reaction was reported in 51% of all reported collisions. Failing to properly look was the most common error and was found in 25% of all cases.
- Travelling at a speed excessive for the road conditions was reported in 8% of all collisions and 18% of all fatal collisions.
- Pedestrian-only factors, such as failing to look before crossing the road, were found in 17% of cases, with careless or reckless driving being among the most common faults for drivers.
Pedestrian Casualties in Scotland
The Department for Transport conducts their own research on a UK-wide scale, meaning that their findings can be reviewed on a country-by-country basis. Their research on pedestrian casualties found that whilst there were 470 pedestrians killed in 2019 in the UK, this figure decreased to 405 in 2023. Whilst this shows an overall decrease, the opposite is evidenced in Scotland where pedestrian casualties have increased.
In Scotland, the most dangerous time of day for pedestrians was, perhaps unsurprisingly, between 5pm and 6pm. Roads are generally busier at this time of day with commuters making their way home after work. This was closely followed by 3pm to 4pm, the school rush-hour. The least dangerous time was 4am to 5am. When considering casualties month-by-month, the Department for Transport found that more injuries (including fatalities) occur in December than any other month, with the least occurring in May.
Personal Injury Claims
Interestingly, when considering figures provided by the Government's Compensation Recovery Unit, there has been a decrease in the number of personal injury claims being made in relation to road traffic collisions. Whilst in 2024, 328,637 motor injury claims were registered across the UK, this is 50% below the pre-pandemic level, and 7% less than 2023.
Campaigns for Change
Despite changes to our Highway Code in 2022, the number of pedestrian and cycling fatalities increased significantly between 2022 and 2023. In 2023, pedestrian deaths equated to just under one-third of all road fatalities in Scotland. Whilst the total number of fatal collisions has decreased in recent decades, the number of recent fatalities has remained broadly the same. This is evidence that more needs to be done to improve safety for all road users to get us to the point where there are zero deaths on our roads.
Brake is a national charity that dedicates itself to improving safety across UK roads. They have been campaigning for safer roads since 1995, working towards the goal of eliminating road deaths entirely. They are currently supporting campaigns to introduce graduated driving licences for young and newly qualified drivers, to require manufacturers to fit life-saving technology as standard, implement default 20mph speed limits on all roads in built-up areas across the UK and for zero-tolerance on drink driving. Undoubtedly all of these measures would positively impact the current numbers of deaths and injuries on UK roads.
MFMac is proud to be a member of Brake's Scottish legal panel, offering legal assistance to individuals and families who have been impacted by road traffic collisions. If you have been involved in a collision, please get in touch with our personal injury team and we will provide you with expert advice on successfully making a claim to guide you through that process.
