Foreword
Foreword
This is the 12th and final annual report for Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020.
This Annual Report concludes Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020 ("the framework"). The framework was launched in June 2009. It set out the vision for road safety in Scotland and included Scotland specific targets and milestones.
The targets were deliberately challenging, however the framework brought forward a strong partnership approach to the delivery of many road safety strategies and initiatives. The 'Reported Road Casualties Scotland in 2020' provides finalised figures confirming all five national casualty reduction targets had been achieved and that overall casualty numbers and fatalities are at the lowest number since annual records began.
We have however been faced with a pandemic and, whilst it is no surprise that with fewer journeys over the lockdown period we are seeing fewer road casualties, prior to the pandemic road casualties in Scotland had been showing a clear, ongoing reduction. However, further improving road safety remains a priority for the Scottish Government.
Our road safety partners and I know that one death on Scotland's roads is one too many. The fact we have met all our casualty reductions targets, putting us among the best performing European countries, means very little to those who have sadly lost friends and love ones in tragic circumstances.
The Annual Report summarises the work carried out at both a national and local level during 2020, provides an oversight of the governance and showcases the initiatives and activities supported by the Road Safety Framework Fund. All activity is evidence-based and, in the case of that funded by the framework, externally evaluated, to determine the extent of its impact on road safety.
A report evaluating how the framework performed over its ten-year period will be published separately.
Looking ahead, there is much still to do. You will see in this report the next steps we are taking in road safety on the path to delivering Scotland's new Road Safety Framework to 2030.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to offer particular thanks to all our road safety partners who work together to make Scotland's road travel safe for all. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you all throughout the next framework.
Graeme Dey
Minister for Transport