Finalised statistics released by Transport Scotland confirm there was an increase in the number of people killed in reported road collisions in Scotland in 2024 compared to 2023. However, there was a reduction in overall casualties over the same period.
The Reported Road Casualties publication released today by Transport Scotland Statisticians provides finalised figures for the number of people injured or killed as a result of road collisions. Provisional figures were published in June in the Key Reported Road Casualties publication.
The finalised statistics for 2024 show 161 people were killed in reported road collisions in Scotland in 2024, 18 more than a revised figure of 143 in 2023.
Provisional figures published in June suggested that serious casualties had slightly reduced in 2024. Finalised figures now show serious casualties have slightly increased in 2024, whilst slight casualties and the total number of casualties overall have decreased.
The number of people seriously injured in 2024 was 1,978, 26 (one percent) more than 2023. Slight casualties decreased by four percent (from 3,739 in 2023 to 3,595 in 2024) meaning that total casualties reduced by two percent (from 5,834 to 5,734).
Road casualties have increased since 2020 and 2021 when the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions led to reduced travel. However, in 2024 the number of fatalities was the third-lowest recorded in a non-pandemic year.
Scotland’s current Road Safety Framework, contains four national targets for casualty reductions due for delivery in 2030. These targets compare performance to a 2014-2018 baseline.
Commenting on the statistics, Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop (pictiured) said:
“These figures, confirming the trends in the provisional statistics from earlier this year, are a painful reminder of the challenges we face on our roads. Every one of these statistics represents a person or household that has been changed forever. I refuse to accept that people being killed or injured on our roads is inevitable or acceptable, and my thoughts are with the families, friends and communities affected.
“I want to be clear – road safety remains an absolute priority for the Scottish Government, and that is why we are investing a record £48 million this financial year into roads safety activity and programmes. We are committed to funding safety improvements on trunk roads, supporting councils to take action on local roads, running high profile campaigns on key issues like speeding, motorcyclist safety and drink/drug driving, and investing in technology aimed at making our roads safer.
“These efforts, as well as those of our road safety partners, are more important than ever and it’s vital that we continue to work together at all levels to reach our target of Scotland having the best road safety performance in the world by 2030. The fall in pedestrian and cyclist deaths shows progress on that front.”
(Pic: Scottish Government)(
