Liaison Group on Road Accident Statistics
LGRAS (07) 1
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ROAD SAFETY RESEARCH PROJECTS
1.
Introduction
1.1
This paper provides information about:
 a recently completed road safety research project which used STATS 19 data
(unpublished - due for publication early 2008) - see Section 2;
 ongoing and forthcoming road safety research projects (unpublished) - see Section 3; and
 road safety research published in 2006/07 (none using STATS 19) - see Section 4.
1.2
Further information on any of these projects or copies of the full reports (where
applicable) can be obtained from:
Carol Brown
Senior Research Officer
Transport Analytical Services
Scottish Executive
2D Dockside
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ
Tel: 0131 244 0285
carol.brown@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
2.
Recently completed road safety research project which used STATS 19 data
2.1
Rural Road Safety
Status: Research completed. Due for publication early 2008.
Summary: A consortium of TNS System Three, Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and
Transport Research Institute (TRi) were commissioned to undertake research into road
accidents on rural roads. The aims of the research were: to explore causes of accidents on
rural roads in Scotland; and to build typologies of rural road drivers and investigate their
behaviours and attitudes. The findings will be used to inform future rural road safety strategy
and campaign development.
Mixed methods were used in the research, including analysis of the STATS19 data, driver
surveys and focus groups. The STATS19 data was analysed both quantitatively and
qualitatively. Road accident data was first examined to find out which contributory factors
(CFs) were recorded most frequently for accidents on rural roads in Scotland and variations
by type of vehicle and severity of accident. The researchers then studied reports from 700
accidents across 3 police forces to compare the text descriptions with the choice of CFs (e.g.
to investigate if the CFs were completed correctly, if the choice of CFs appeared correct from
the text description and if any aspects of the accident were not recorded by the contributory
factor data). Full findings from all aspects of the research will be available in the final report
which is expected to be published on-line in early 2008. Hard copies of the 4-page research
findings summary will also be available.
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3.
Ongoing and forthcoming road safety research projects
3.1 Drink Driving
Status: Research completed. Due for publication early 2008.
Description: TNS System Three were commissioned to establish trends in prevalence and
incidence of drink-driving; explore current knowledge, attitudes and behaviours with regards
drink-driving and track any changes since similar research was carried out in 2001. The
information will be used to inform future strategy and campaign development around drink
driving. The study involved a quantitative survey of around 1000 drivers, 6 focus groups with
people who said they drive after drinking alcohol and 6 in-depth interviews with people who
admitted driving when over the drink drive limit.
Use of STATS 19: None
3.2 Review of S1/S2 Road Safety Education Resource
Status: Research underway. Due for completion Feb 2008 and publication spring 2008.
Description: Colin Buchanan Ltd and RSN have been commissioned to review the uptake
and usage of the existing S1/S2 road safety education resource and to provide advice for the
development of new materials for this age group. The research will involve a survey of all
high schools, interviews with teachers, focus groups with pupils and consultation with Road
Safety Officers to find out opinions on the materials and how they could be updated.
Use of STATS 19: Limited: potential inclusion of some road accident data involving
children/young people for background information.
3.3
Note on the new Road Safety Strategy:
The development of a new Road Safety Strategy was a manifesto commitment of the new
administration. As part of this process an expert panel on road safety was established in
September 2006. The division dealing with road safety issues within the Scottish Government
may require some research and analytical input in relation to this new strategy, although
nothing has been yet been proposed.
4.
Road safety research published in 2006/07
(none using STATS 19 data)
4.1
Evaluation of Foolsspeed Campaign: Final Phase
Published: March 2007
Description: Qualitative evaluation of reactions to the Foolspeed public road safety
campaign, particularly the 'Doppelganger' television advertisement (2004-2005).
4.2
Illicit Drugs and Driving
Published: July 2006
Description: Investigation of the prevalence and social context of drug driving in Scotland.
The research consisted of a survey of around 1000 drivers aged 17-39 and qualitative
interviews with problem drug users, recreational drug users and people who had been
passengers of drug drivers.
4.3
Development of a Primary School Road Safety Charter for Scotland
Published: July 2006
Description: Investigation of the feasibility of developing a national Primary School Road
Safety Charter for Scotland. The report provides guidance on the development of such a
charter.
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4.4
Increasing Membership of the Children's Traffic Club in Scotland in Areas of High
Social Deprivation
Published: July 2006
Description: Recommendations about how uptake of the Children’s Traffic Club in Scotland
could be increased in areas of high social deprivation
4.5
Streetsense Evaluation
Published: July 2006
Description: Evaluation of the Streetsense road safety education resource, with the aims of
identifying how effectively the resource has been distributed and how primary schools
currently use the resource.
4.6
Peer Road Safety in Scottish Secondary Schools
Published: June 2006
Description: Exploration of the feasibility of using peer education to teach road safety
programmes in secondary schools in Scotland. The methodology consisted of structured
interviews with key stakeholders, case studies and a literature review.
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