The figures – released as Department for Transport stats show that Great Britian road casualties fell but motorway deaths increased – show that casualties fell by 10% between 2012 and 2013 from 12,722 to 11,493, with fatalities falling by 3% from 178 to 172 and serious injuries falling by 16% to 1,667. 

Casualty numbers for all modes of transport fell, including a 12% fall in pedestrian casualties, an 11% fall for motorcycle casualties and a 3% fall in pedal cycle casualties. 

However, there were increases in fatalities amongst car users, motorcyclists and cyclists but pedestrian fatalities fell after an increase in 2012.

In response, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RosPA) has said that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable road users in Scotland.

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA’s head of road safety, said: ‘Although it is encouraging to see that the number of people killed or injured on Scotland’s roads has fallen in 2013, we must not lose sight of the fact that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable road users from injury and even death.

‘With more cyclists, motorcyclists and children killed in Scotland last year than in 2012, it shows that there needs to be a real focus on making our roads safer for them to use.

‘At RoSPA, a big part of our mission is to stop children being accidentally killed or injured, and we also support initiatives that seek to improve the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Any work in this area can help prevent injuries and has other health advantages too.

‘Scotland’s target is to reduce the number of people killed in road accidents by 2020, based on a 2004-08 baseline average, but clearly more work needs to be done in order to meet the target for vulnerable road users, such as children, cyclists and motorcyclists.’