THE number of people killed on Scotland’s roads dropped 11% last year, according to government figures.
Those seriously injured in 2011 also went down 5% compared with the previous year.
Road death and injury numbers are now at their lowest-ever level, down 47% and 45% respectively since 2001, but Transport Minister Keith Brown said there is no room for complacency.
“The very latest data on reported road casualties provides encouraging evidence we are making good progress in driving down road casualties, with numbers at their lowest level since records began over 60 years ago,” he said.
“Crucially the numbers of fatal and seriously injured are falling but, as we’ve seen in recent days with another fatality on our roads, there is simply no room for complacency.
“I am acutely aware of the tragic and personal cost of every fatality on our roads and we must continue to do everything we can to reduce those figures further still.”
Authorities have taken a co-ordinated approach based on education and enforcement and have sought to meet ambitious targets, Mr Brown said.
Deputy Chief Constable Tom Ewing, secretary of road policing at the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland said the country’s roads are safer than ever but there are still too many deaths.
“Too many people, including children, are losing their lives needlessly every week,” he said.
“The Scottish Police Service works daily with our road safety partners targeting those who take risks on the roads and put the lives of others at risk.”