“We must never lose sight of the fact that one death on our roads is one too many”

New data confirms that there was a fall in the number of people killed in reported road collisions in Scotland in 2023, when compared to 2022.

The finalised statistics for 2023, published by Transport Scotland, show that 155 people were killed in reported road collisions in Scotland in 2023, 16 less than in 2022. 

The number of people seriously injured was 1,944, 161 (9%) more than in 2022.

The overall number of casualties also rose in 2023, from 5,643 to 5,829.

Although the total number of casualties has increased each year since all-time recorded lows in 2020 (the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic), the Scottish Government says casualties are still at low levels historically. 

The number of casualties recorded in 2023 was the fourth lowest on record.

Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for transport, said: “My first thoughts are with the families and friends who have tragically lost loved ones, and those whose lives are changed forever. We must never lose sight of the fact that one death on our roads is one too many.

“I want to be clear that road safety remains a priority for the Scottish Government and that is why we are investing a record £36m this financial year to deliver a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving driver behaviour and ultimately reducing the number of casualties on our roads. 

“We are absolutely committed to working with road safety partners to reach our ambitious goal of having the best road safety performance in the world by 2030 and a long-term goal where no one is seriously injured or killed on our roads by 2050.”

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