Lower limit starting to take effect

The number of people killed in road accidents dropped 17% in the year after Scotland’s drinkdrive limit was lowered.

There were 168 deaths on the roads in 2015, down from 203 the previous year, statistics released by Transport Scotland showed.

There was also a 3% drop in the number of casualties, from 11,307 in 2014 to 10,968.

The number of people seriously injured fell by 6% to 1,596.

There was also a drop in the number of children injured in 2015, with 972 child casualties in reported road accidents, a fall of 6% from 2014.

This included four fatalities, three fewer than 2014, and 139 children who were seriously injured, down from 172 in 2014.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf said: “These latest figures confirm the downward trend in road casualties, that key milestone reductions are being met and we are on track to continue to achieve casualty reductions towards our 2020 targets.

“This progress is to be welcomed, but we want to go even further, building on the strong partnership approach which identified three key priority focus areas for activity through to 2020 – speed, age and vulnerable road users.

“Partners are progressing work to address outcomes in these areas that will help us achieve our 2020 casualty reduction targets.”

The figures showed there were three fewer pedal cyclists killed than in 2014 and 15 fewer pedestrian fatalities.

Three fewer motorcyclists were killed and 19 fewer car users.

However, there was a 3% increase in pedal cyclists seriously injured while bus casualties seriously injured increased from 28 to 49.

Lucy Amos, spokeswoman for Brake, the road safety charity, said: “These are promising steps towards Scotland meeting its road safety targets for 2020 – however, those involved cannot afford to grow complacent, with the increase in cyclists seriously injured over the past year showing that more work needs to be done to ensure this downward trend continues.”

Scotland’s drink-drive limit was lowered from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood in December 2014.

The statistics update provisional figures published in June.