NEW calls have been made for cuts in speed limits in built up areas to 20mph after it emerged that there was a rise in pedestrians killed in traffic collisions.

There was further concern that the number of cyclists hurt in accidents on Scottish roads is at the highest for ten years.

The latest statistics from Transport Scotland reveals an increase in the number of cyclists who were seriously hurt in road accidents from 148 in 2016 to 171 last year.

Meanwhile, the number of pedestrians killed rose from 32 to 38.

The data also shows that 44 of 141 fatal accidents happened on roads in towns and cities.

Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell, who is campaigning for the speed limit in built up areas to be cut to 20 miles per hours, said the increase in pedestrians being killed and cyclists being seriously injured was "hugely concerning".

The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP stated: "A third of deaths on our roads happen on streets in our towns and cities. It's clear we need safer streets.

The Herald: Mark Ruskell MSP.

"The evidence is strong that reducing speed limits to 20mph on urban roads saves lives, reduces injuries and improves air quality. We also know that more people will walk and cycle rather than drive if speeds are reduced.

"The public support a lower limit and I look forward to my bill making progress through Parliament so we can stop deaths and injuries on the streets in our communities."

Mark Ruskell’s Safer Streets Bill, which is due for scrutiny by Parliament, aims to reduce the speed limit in built-up areas from 30 to 20mph. He estimates it will save five lives a year, along with 755 fewer casualties and a public cost saving of up to £40 million.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson welcomed the figures which showed that there were a total of 9,428 casualties in 2017, the lowest level since records began and a drop of almost a quarter in the number of people who were fatally injured.

Road accidents claimed the lives of 146 people last year, 24% less than in 2016, with just two youngsters under the age of 16 killed compared to 12 deaths the previous year.

Mr Matheson said: "While I and the Scottish Government's road safety partners can welcome this long-term trend of decreasing road casualties since 2004, this fact brings no comfort to the friends and relatives of people who have tragically died on Scotland's roads.

"This point is felt particularly this year, when people across Scotland have had to come to terms with incidents which have shaken local communities and the nation as whole.

"This is why we are resolute in our determination to continue to work towards the ultimate vision set out in the Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020, where no-one is killed on Scotland's roads."

"In partnership with local authorities, Police Scotland, road safety charities and many others, we are now upping key stakeholder encouragement to do more as we move towards our final push to achieve our 2020 road casualty reduction targets on Scotland's roads."