CAR crashes in Clydebank have more than halved in the past 10 years, the latest statistics show.

Figures released by Transport Scotland show the number of road traffic smashes in West Dunbartonshire dropped to just 83 last year.

The figure for 2018, reported provisionally last week, is 60 per cent less than the annual average for the area between 2004 and 2008, which stood at 209.

The number of people killed on the roads of West Dunbartonshire has also dropped by 75 per cent – from an average of four, between 2004 and 2008, to just one last year.

Collisions considered “serious” are also down, dropping from 32 a decade ago to 20 last year.

The drop in the number of West Dunbartonshire crashes outstripped the reduction across Scotland, which was down by 50 per cent from 13,026 incidents to 6,412.

Fatal crashes also saw a fall across Scotland – from 268 to 149 – along with serious incidents, which fell from 2,226 to 1,368.

Michael Matheson, transport secretary, said: “The latest statistics confirm that, for yet another year, overall road casualties on Scotland’s roads are at the lowest levels since records began.

“That decrease is to be welcomed – however, there has been a slight increase in the number of people who have tragically died on our roads.

“And while we are exceeding our 2020 reduction target for fatal collisions, this fact provides no comfort to the friends and family of those who have sadly lost their lives.

“I’m determined to continue our pursuit of ‘Vision Zero’, which is the ultimate vision set out in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 and continue to work with partners to create the conditions where no-one is killed on our roads.

“Selection criteria for safety cameras have been revised in the past year and I am clear that we will see more average speed camera systems in Scotland in the future.”

Chief superintendent Stewart Carle, head of road policing, said: “Our mission is to keep people safe and that includes making our roads safer by reducing collisions through enforcement.”

“It’s everyone’s responsibility to look out for each other and take the utmost care, no matter whether a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist or driver.”