MOTORING experts have insisted there is still a “hard core” of issues with drivers’ behaviour...despite a drop in the number of road accidents.

Figures released by Transport Scotland show that the number of people killed or injured on roads in 2017 reached the lowest level since records began.

There was a 10 per cent reduction in serious accidents on Renfrewshire roads, compared to 2016, while the number in East Renfrewshire stayed largely the same.

A total of 258 people were killed or injured on roads in Renfrewshire last year – down from 287 in 2016.

Neil Greig, of road safety charity IAM Roadsmart, said that while he is encouraged by the latest figures, much more must be done to produce safer drivers.

He added: “Last year was indeed a good year for road safety but overall numbers have not made that much progress in recent years compared to the last few decades.

“We seem to have reached a plateau and the big gains made in the past are now history.

“Safer cars, renewed investment in modern road building and cycle lanes are all helping, although the impact of 20mph zones with signs only is harder to quantify.

“There is still a hard core of human behaviour issues that need to be attacked. We can do this by education campaigns and more high-profile enforcement of speeding and drink-driving.

“IAM RoadSmart wants to see roadside drug testing implemented as soon as possible and also speed awareness courses introduced to change driver attitudes.

“In Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, it is important that both councils continue to fund road safety officers and maintain their road building programmes, including more segregated cycle facilities and upgraded pedestrian areas.”

The number of people killed or injured on the roads has been falling year on year for more than a decade in Scotland, with 16,239 casualties recorded in 2007, including almost 300 fatalities.

Last year, the total number of casualties was 9,428.

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

“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.”