New data from Transport Scotland has shown there was an increase in fatalities in 2024, despite an overall decrease in casualties from previous years.
There were 5,576 road casualties reported in 2024, 160 of which were fatalities, with 1,931 people seriously injured. This was an increase from 147 fatalities in 2023, but it was also a decrease in serious casualties by 1% from 1,952.
The report also showed that car users had the highest number of casualties in 2024 (3,326), followed by pedestrians (883) and motorcyclists (446). Car driver and passenger casualties decreased by 3% from 2023, but fatalities rose by 30% from 57 to 74.
Motorcycle’s saw a similar pattern, with casualties decreasing by 7% from 2023 but fatalities increasing by four from 27 to 31.
Thankfully, there was a decrease in pedestrian casualties by 7% from 2023 and pedestrian fatalities decreased by six to 41. Cycling casualties also fell by 6%, with cycling fatalities dropping as well from seven to three.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: ‘Behind every one of these statistics is a person or a household that has been changed forever, and my thoughts are with the families and friends that have lost loved ones and those who’ve been injured. One life lost on our roads is one too many, and I want to reiterate that road safety remains an absolute priority for the Scottish Government.’
Continuing, she highlighted the fact that she updated parliament in 2024 that fatal casualties were ‘tracking above targets in 2024’. With the recently published figures appearing to confirm this prediction, Ms Hyslop said that she refuses to accept that people being killed or injured on our roads is inevitable, adding that ‘it is more important than ever that we continue to s upport the vital work of the Scottish Government and partners to save lives’.
Investment in road safety is due to increase, reaching £48m this budgetary year, which Ms Hyslop stated will help fund safety improvement for both local and trunk roads. It is also intended to help with campaigns to raise awareness for issues such as speeding, driving under the influence and seatbelt, as well as funding technology that can improve road safety.
‘It’s vital that we continue to work with our partners at all levels,’ she said, ‘as we look to-wards reaching our target of Scotland having the best road safety performance in the world by 2030. I recently spoke to organisations at the Road Safety Scot-land Annual Seminar and I am set to chair the next Strategic Partnership Board meeting later this month, where I will continue to impress the importance of road safety investment on members.
‘These figures are a painful reminder of the challenge we face, but I remain absolutely determined to save lives and ensure we continue working towards our long-term vision of no-one being killed or seriously injured on Scotland’s roads by 2050.’
