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Deaths on Scotland's roads fall Deaths on Scotland's roads fall
(10 minutes later)
The transport minister has warned against complacency after road fatalities in Scotland fell by 3% during 2008.The transport minister has warned against complacency after road fatalities in Scotland fell by 3% during 2008.
It was the second successive year to have seen a decrease, with road fatalities now at their lowest level for more than 50 years.It was the second successive year to have seen a decrease, with road fatalities now at their lowest level for more than 50 years.
Stewart Stevenson said that the number of child fatalities remained a concern.Stewart Stevenson said that the number of child fatalities remained a concern.
The provisional statistics come a week after the Scottish Government published a new 10 year road safety framework. The provisional statistics released by the government said there were a total of 272 road deaths last year.
We want this new framework to set us on a downward trajectory leading to an ultimate vision of zero road deaths in Scotland Stewart StevensonTransport Minister The fatalities included 153 car drivers or passengers, 61 pedestrians, 34 motorcyclists and nine cyclists.
The total is nearly 100 below the annual average for the early 1990s - and less than half the death toll of the early 1950s.
We want this new framework to set us on a downward trajectory leading to an ultimate vision of zero road deaths in Scotland Stewart StevensonTransport Minister Scheme aims to cut driver deaths
The total number of casualties also fell, dropping by 4% to 15,563 - the lowest figure since 1949.
A total of 291 children were killed or seriously injured on Scotland's roads last year.
The statistics come a week after the Scottish Government published a new 10 year road safety framework.
It set out a series of wide-ranging proposals to cut the number of road deaths in Scotland. It also set tough new casualty reduction targets - the most ambitious in the UK.It set out a series of wide-ranging proposals to cut the number of road deaths in Scotland. It also set tough new casualty reduction targets - the most ambitious in the UK.
The Scottish Government's new road framework was launched together with wide-ranging proposals to cut the number of deaths on the roads.The Scottish Government's new road framework was launched together with wide-ranging proposals to cut the number of deaths on the roads.
This included an emphasis on initiatives targeting young people and a 'lifelong' learning approach to road safety education from the age of three.This included an emphasis on initiatives targeting young people and a 'lifelong' learning approach to road safety education from the age of three.
The plan sets the toughest road casualty reduction targets in the UK. The government says it will continue to look at new ways of getting road safety messages across to people of all ages.The plan sets the toughest road casualty reduction targets in the UK. The government says it will continue to look at new ways of getting road safety messages across to people of all ages.
Mr Stevenson said "The road safety community is united in its effort to save lives, and we want this new framework to set us on a downward trajectory leading to an ultimate vision of zero road deaths in Scotland."Mr Stevenson said "The road safety community is united in its effort to save lives, and we want this new framework to set us on a downward trajectory leading to an ultimate vision of zero road deaths in Scotland."