Dramatic drop in accidents and deaths on roads

NUMBERS of accidents and fatalities on Tayside roads have fallen dramatically in the last five years.

A report has revealed that there was an average of 986 accidents around Tayside between 2004 and 2008.

That figure fell to 628 between 2011 and 2015.

The number of fatal crashes fell from 28 to 18 in the same time periods, while accidents marked as serious has reduced substantially – from 234 to 140.

Around Dundee, the average number of accidents on roads was 290, with the latest figures showing a reduction of 100 between 2011 and 2015.

There was an average of three fatal road traffic accidents between 2004 and 2008, while the average between 2011 and 2015 was two.

Serious accidents have also decreased — from 61 to 37.

Angus has seen a similar reduction in the average number of incidents, with 294 between 2004 and 2008 falling to 177 in 2011 to 2015.

Serious accidents fell from 67 to 39 in the same time frame and fatal accidents reduced by two — from seven to five.

The Government’s transport minister Humza Yousaf said: “Safety is a priority and that is why the framework has an ultimate vision of zero fatalities on our roads.

“I am absolutely clear one life lost on our roads is one too many.

“These new figures show the continued downward trend in road casualties.

“We remain on track to achieve significant casualty reductions towards our 2020 targets, as well as realising our vision where no one is killed on Scotland’s roads and the injury rate is much reduced.”