Deaths and injuries down on North East roads

Roads in the North East of Scotland are officially safer to drive on than four years ago.

Interim key statistics for the North East (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray) in 2019 are:

· 17 fatal injury collisions occurred – an 11% reduction from the 2015 to 2019 average figure (from 19 to 17) and a 59% reduction from the 2004 to 2008 average figure (from 41 to 17).

· 363 injury collisions (of all types) – a 27% reduction from the 2015 to 2019 average figure (from 500 to 363) and a 70% reduction from the 2004 to 2008 average figure (from 1206 to 363).

· 19 fatal casualties occurred – a 10% reduction from the 2015 to 2019 average figure (from 21 to 19) and a 59% reduction from the 2004 to 2008 average figure (from 46 to 19)

· 511 casualties (of all types) occurred – a 23% decrease from the 2015 to 2019 average figure (from 661 to 511) and a 67% reduction from the 2004 to 2008 average figure (from 1550 to 511)

Commenting on the update, Ewan Wallace, Head of Transportation at Aberdeenshire Council and Chair of Road Safety North East Scotland (RSNES) said:

“These interim figures are positive, with further reductions seen in the numbers of both road collisions and casualties.

“For several years we have seen steady reductions occurring, but we can’t be complacent and must ensure there is an ongoing focus on local road casualty reduction.

“All of us have a responsibility to use roads safely and carefully: we also need to be aware of our surroundings, anticipate what may lie ahead in our journey and be particularly mindful when encountering vulnerable road users such as children, pedal cyclists and pedestrians.

“2020 is the final year of the Scottish Government’s national ten-year Road Safety Framework and it is a year which has seen some significant changes to local road use.