Rise in serious and fatal Argyll accidents

ROAD accidents fell in Argyll and Bute last year – but the number of serious and fatal accidents rose by almost half.

Police recorded 178 accidents in 2016, including 53 serious and eight fatal, according to Transport Scotland’s latest statistics, compared to 226 accidents the year before, with 35 serious and six fatal.

The number of casualties also fell from 320 in 2015 to 240 in 2016, but those suffering serious injuries rose from 51 to 63, as did fatalities from six to nine.

In total, 191 people were killed in reported road accidents in Scotland in 2016, 23 more than in 2015. The figures show the total number of casualties fell by one per cent between 2015 and 2016 from 10,974 to 10,881, but the number of people seriously injured increased by six per cent to 1,693.

The figures also show that in 2016 there were 1,011 child casualties in reported road accidents, an increase of four per cent since 2015. This included 12 fatalities, eight more than 2015 and 167 children who were seriously injured, up from 139 in 2015.

There were three more pedal cyclists killed than in 2015 and 12 fewer pedestrian fatalities. There were also three more motorcyclists killed and 31 more car user fatalities.

Last year saw a 19 per cent increase in car users seriously injured, while motorcyclist serious injuries rose by four per cent. However, the number of pedestrians seriously injured decreased from 424 to 397 and pedal cyclists seriously injured from 164 to 147 between 2015 and 2016. Other modes of transport saw increases in the number of people seriously injured from 67 to 81.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf said: ‘It’s disappointing that there has been an increase in the number of fatalities and the number of people seriously injured on our roads in 2016. ‘The longer-term downward trends are positive, and the annual decline in the total number of casualties, to the lowest level since records began, is encouraging. However, I am resolute in my determination to save lives and to meet the ultimate vision where no- one is killed on Scotland’s roads.’

Jason Wakeford, spokesman for road safety charity Brake, said: ‘Today’s figures are deeply troubling. It’s shocking to see more fatalities on Scotland’s roads last year, and more children, cyclists and motorcyclists needlessly losing their lives.

‘We urge the Scottish Government to implement a default 20mph limit in built-up areas, accompanied by additional speed enforcement on roads by the police.’

Sandy Allan, road safety manager for RoSPA Scotland, said: ‘ We are disappointed to see the first increase in fatalities and serious injuries on Scotland’s roads for a number of years. However, these figures of course represent a single year, and so no long-term trend can be drawn from them.’