Scots roads deaths fell last year while Glasgow saw increase

New figures from Transport Scotland have revealed 155 people were killed in collisions in the country in 2023, 16 fewer than the year before.

Meanwhile Glasgow’s deaths doubled from seven in 2022 to 14 in 2023, triggering safety improvements being carried out in the city.

We previously reported how eleven pedestrians, two cyclists and one passenger in an emergency vehicle died as a result of collision incidents.

The pedestrians included two children - a five-year-old and a 13-year-old.

Cyclist Emma Newman (Image: Police Scotland)

Experienced cyclist Emma Newman also died after being hit by a lorry at Broomielaw in the city centre in January 2023.

The 22-year-old student, who had planned to spend the summer climbing Scotland's munros, was travelling to the Mackintosh School of Architecture on the day of her death.

Days later two women were hit by carson St Vincent Street, just metres away from each other on the same night.

Just four days after the tragic incidents another pedestrian was killed, this time in the city's East End.

Emma Newman died after being hit by a lorry at Broomielaw in the city centre. (Image: Sourced)

Following the spate of fatalities, Police Scotland released a statement encouraging all road users to be aware of potential risks and for motorists to drive with care.

But just days later again, a pensioner died after a crash involving an off-road motorbike on Balmore Road, North Glasgow.

Now Transport Scotland has reported that Scotland is experiencing historic low levels of road deaths, with the number of fatalities last year being the fourth lowest on record.

Two of the three years with lower figures also occurred during the pandemic period when Covid-19 pandemic restrictions led to reduced travel.

Police investigating road crash (Image: Sourced)

Despite the overall drop in fatalities in 2023, the number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities increased compared with 2022.

Pedestrian fatalities increased from 34 to 47 and cycling fatalities increased from two to seven.

Compared to 2022, there was a fall in reported casualties of 16 percent for pedal cyclists.

However, there was an increase of six percent in car casualties and an increase of three percent in pedestrian casualties.

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.

We previously reported how Glasgow councillor Holly Bruce claimed a preventative approach should be used to help avoid tragedies on Glasgow’s roads, says a councillor determined for change.

Cllr Holly Bruce (Image: Newsquest)

Councillor Holly Bruce said: “The number is worrying, and I don't want to make any sort of assumptions because it might just be bad luck, but we can't rest in our morals and be like, ‘Right, so that was a bad year’.

“We need to look at the deaths critically and make sure that we are being preventative in our approach because I don't think that's what's happening at the moment. It's very reactive. It's when it happens, change will come.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “While the drop in the number of fatalities on our roads is welcome, we must never forget that behind every one of these statistics is a person or a household that has been changed forever.

"One death on our roads is one too many and my thoughts go out to those who have lost loved ones or who have been injured in road traffic incidents.

"I do not accept road casualties are inevitable and it is vital we continue to work to bring overall casualty numbers down."

She added: “I remain resolute in my determination to save lives on Scotland’s roads and help us work towards our long term vision of no-one being killed or seriously injured on Scotland’s roads by 2050."