The Scottish Government has published a new Road Safety Framework to 2030.
The Framework sets out a vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030 and an ambitious long term goal where no one is seriously injured or killed on its roads by 2050.
The Framework builds on what has already been achieved here in Scotland over the last decade. It sets out new strategic outcomes for road safety, built around the safe system approach, coupled with a comprehensive performance management system to monitor progress. For the first time, mode specific targets are being created to focus attention by partners on priority areas. Transport Scotland will also establish new Local Partnership Forums to expand and grow the connections between national and local road safety across Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson published the new Framework document whilst also announcing a £500,000 allocation to open the latest round of Road Safety Framework Funding – helping organisations take forward innovative projects to improve road safety.
To kick-start a national conversation around road safety, the Framework has also launched to coincide with a new national marketing campaign by the Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland focusing on speed reduction – with the clear message that there is no excuse for speeding. Mr Matheson said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to improving road safety and our new Framework aims to halve road deaths by 2030 and achieve Vision Zero by 2050. Deaths or serious injuries on our road network are not an inevitability. Our strong belief, shared by Scotland’s road safety partners, is that even one death on our roads is one too many.
“Our previous Framework approach has been successful. I know this brings no comfort to those who have lost loved ones, but the latest figures show that casualties on Scotland’s roads are at the lowest levels since records began. We’ve seen a 35 per cent increase in traffic over the past 25 years and a 66 per cent decrease in road collisions across the same period.
“We need to build on what we’ve achieved and our new Framework will do so through a sharper focus, improved evaluation, mode specific targets and stronger connections between national and local levels. At the same time, it aims to support wider policy objectives, such as tackling the climate emergency by supporting a shift away from cars and towards walking, wheeling and cycling for shorter everyday journeys.
“Behavioural change remains key – particularly when it comes to tackling issues like speeding. In addition to wider speed enforcement through the new safety cameras sites I announced last year, I’m pleased this Framework is launching with a new nationwide marketing campaign to tackle the issue of speeding on our roads. I also recognise that many organisations and community groups want to help us make Scotland’s roads safer – and the latest funding of £500,000 will help support their ideas, innovation and evaluation in 2021.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams, Police Scotland said: “Reducing road deaths by half over the next 10 years is, rightly, an ambitious target and Police Scotland is committed to working closely with our road safety partners to achieve this.
“Deaths and serious injuries caused on our roads can often be prevented and we will continue in our efforts to improve driver behaviour and educate road users, in addition to carrying out enforcement activity against people who put themselves, or other road users, at risk. We know that speeding is a significant factor in fatal and serious injury collisions and Police Scotland welcomes the new national campaign to educate the public around the dangers of travelling at inappropriate speeds.”
