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5. Comparisons of Scottish figures against those of other countries
5.1 Casualty rates: against England & Wales (see Tables A to D on the pages which follow)
Historically, the "fatal" and "fatal and serious (combined)" casualty rates per head of population in Scotland have been well above those for England & Wales, whereas the "all severities" casualty rate has been lower in Scotland than in England & Wales. Using the averages for the years 1994-98, Scotland’s casualty rates were 20% higher (fatal), 15% higher (fatal and serious) and 24% lower (all severities). In all three cases, this represented an improvement in the position in Scotland relative to that in England & Wales compared with the position in 1981-85. It should be noted that, perhaps due to classification changes (see Annex D), the "fatal and serious" casualty rate has fluctuated far more in Scotland than in England & Wales.
For years, the Scottish child casualty rates per head of population have been higher than those of England & Wales for "fatal" and "fatal and serious (combined)" and about the same for "all severities". Thus, using the 1994-98 averages, the Scottish rates were 37% higher (fatal), 45% higher (fatal and serious) and 1% lower (all severities). This represented a slight worsening in Scotland’s "fatal" and "fatal and serious" figures relative to England & Wales compared with the 1981-85 average, and a very slight improvement for the "all severities" rate.
The casualty rates of car users in Scotland have for many years been substantially higher than those of England & Wales for fatal and "fatal and serious" severities, while for all severities the rate has been much lower. In 1998, Scotland’s car user fatality rate was 56% higher than that of England & Wales, the "fatal and serious" (combined) rate was 27% higher, while the all severity car user rate was 28% lower. For child car users, the fatal casualty rate in Scotland was 76% higher than that of England & Wales, the combined "fatal and serious" rate was 52% higher, and the "all severities" child car user casualty rate was 20% less.
In 1998, the pedestrian fatality rate per capita was 21% higher in Scotland than that for England & Wales, the "fatal and serious (combined)" rate in Scotland was 27% higher and the "all severities" rate was 2% higher. The child pedestrian casualty rates in Scotland were even higher than those for England & Wales: more than double (fatalities), 46% higher (fatal and serious combined) and 15% higher (all severities).
The casualty rates for pedal cyclists of all ages in Scotland were substantially lower than in England & Wales in 1998: 31% lower for fatal and serious (combined); and 46% lower for all severities. The child pedal cycle casualty "fatal and serious (combined)" and "all severities" rates were also lower in Scotland than in England & Wales. These differences may reflect the fact that, according to the National Travel Survey, on average, people in Scotland do not travel as far by bicycle as people in England and Wales.
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