THE number of casualties on Scotland's roads has dropped.

Transport Scotland has announced its preliminary reported road casualty figures for 2015, showing there were 10,950 casualties – three per cent fewer than 2014, making them the lowest on record.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents (RoSPA) welcomes these figures, but suggests caution when considering any annual casualty data in isolation.

Sandy Allan, RoSPA’s road safety manager in Scotland, said: “Following an increase in the number of people killed and seriously injured during 2014, the reductions forecast for 2015 are welcomed but with nearly 11,000 people being injured on our roads it should not be seen as a good news story.

“Among these figures we still have 162 families devastated by the loss of loved ones who never returned home.

“We all need to take care on the road and be aware and respect others.”