The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Scotland is disappointed that the number of children killed in accidents on Scotland’s roads increased between 2010 and 2011.
The provisional figures, published by Transport Scotland, show that seven under-16s were killed on the roads in 2011, an increase from the four deaths in 2010. Five of the children were passengers in cars and two were pedestrians. The number of children seriously injured in reported road accidents fell from 223 to 203. The overall number of child casualties (killed, seriously injured or slightly injured) fell from 1,378 to 1,315.
Overall, the number of people killed and injured in road accidents in Scotland fell between 2010 and 2011. There were 186 road deaths in total during 2011; 22 (11%) fewer than in 2010. There were 1,873 seriously injured casualties; 95 (5%) fewer than in 2010. And, 10,704 people were slightly injured; 458 (4%) fewer than in 2010.
In addition to the rise in child fatalities, RoSPA is also disappointed that there were no reductions in cyclist casualties between 2010 and 2011. Seven cyclists were killed in 2011 - the same as in 2010 - while the number of seriously injured cyclists rose by 13% from 138 to 156. The overall number of cyclist casualties (killed, seriously injured or slightly injured) rose by 6% from 781 to 824.
There was also a rise in the number of pedestrians injured, although a reduction in the number of pedestrians killed.
