Number of child road deaths falls

Casualty figures appear to have dropped across most categories

The number of children killed on the roads in Scotland has dropped significantly.

Provisional figures show that nine children died in road accidents in 2007, down by 16 on the previous year.

The official statistics also suggest a 10% drop in total fatalities, from 314 to 282, and a 12% drop in serious injuries, from 2,626 to 2,316.

Overall, there were 16,063 road casualties - 1,200 (7%) fewer than in 2006, and the lowest number since 1950.

The Scottish Government said the figures were well ahead of national targets to cut deaths and casualties by 2010.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "These are encouraging statistics and I welcome the fall. However, we cannot and will not be complacent.

"It is clear that we can all do more to get our road safety messages across to people of all ages and all driving abilities.

"Road fatalities may be at their lowest level for more than 50 years, but 282 people dying on our roads in Scotland is still 282 too many."

A new road safety strategy for Scotland will be published later in the year.

Final figures for 2007 will be published in the Road Accidents Scotland report in the autumn.