Request Road Safety & Collision Data - Glasgow Bylaws

Transportation Scotland 4 Minutes Read ยท published February 11, 2026 Flag of Scotland

Glasgow, Scotland residents, researchers and community groups can request road safety and collision data held by Glasgow City Council and related authorities. This guide explains which office to contact, how to make a Freedom of Information request, what datasets may be available through the council open data service, and the statutory timescales that typically apply. It also summarises enforcement roles and practical next steps to obtain street-level collision records, anonymised casualty details, or council traffic-scheme evaluations.

What data is usually available

The council may hold collision reports, injury severity summaries, casualty counts by location and road-safety scheme evaluations; some raw collision report details are collected by Police Scotland and shared via council records or national statistics. To check published datasets use the council open data pages[2] or ask the council directly by FOI[1].

Start with the council open data and FOI pages to avoid duplicate requests.

When to request and what to include

  • Describe the scope: street name(s), date range, collision severity filters, and preferred format (CSV, PDF).
  • Specify whether you need anonymised personal data or detailed police report fields.
  • State a reasonable date range; very large ranges may incur time/cost considerations.
Clear, narrow requests are processed faster and are less likely to attract fees.

Penalties & Enforcement

Requests for data and compliance issues about provision of records are handled by Glasgow City Council officers under the council's information governance and the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Enforcement of road safety and traffic regulation on Glasgow streets is carried out by Glasgow City Council Roads Service for local traffic regulation orders and by Police Scotland for criminal and collision investigations.

  • Monetary penalties for moving traffic or criminal offences: amounts and scales are set under national legislation and Police Scotland procedures; specific fine amounts for local enforcement are not specified on the cited council pages[1].
  • Escalation: first, repeat or continuing offences and escalation ranges are not specified on the cited council pages and are determined by legislation and prosecuting authorities[1].
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders, prohibition notices, vehicle seizure and court action may apply; specific local procedures are not specified on the cited council pages[1].
  • Enforcer and complaints: contact Glasgow City Council Roads Service for TRO and traffic-scheme matters and Police Scotland for collision investigations; make information requests via the council FOI service[1].
  • Appeals and review: appeals against enforcement penalties follow court or tribunal routes as set out by the enforcing authority; statutory timescales for FOI responses are set by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002[3].
If you expect prosecutions or criminal evidence needs, contact Police Scotland directly rather than requesting records via FOI.

Applications & Forms

To request collision data from Glasgow City Council:

  • Use the council Freedom of Information request route or online form available on the council FOI page; follow the guidance there for required details and contact information[1].
  • Check the council open data portal for published datasets before requesting bespoke extracts[2].
  • Fees: the council may apply charges for extensive data collation or duplication; any fee policy is explained on the FOI page or provided in the council response if applicable[1].
Many datasets are already published on the council open data portal so a formal FOI request is not always necessary.

Action steps

  • Search the Glasgow open data portal for collision or road-safety datasets and download available files[2].
  • If data is not published, prepare an FOI request with precise filters and submit via the council FOI page[1].
  • Expect the council to process the request under Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 timescales; see the Act for statutory limits[3].
  • If your request is refused or delayed, follow the council review and appeal routes listed in their FOI guidance and consider the Scottish Information Commissioner for review.

FAQ

Can I get collision data for a single street?
Yes. Specify the street name, junction limits and date range in your request; check the open data portal first and then use the FOI route if needed[2][1].
How long will the council take to respond?
The council processes FOI requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002; statutory timescales apply and are set out in the Act and the council FOI guidance[3][1].
Will personal data be released?
Personal data will be considered under data protection rules; requests for anonymised or aggregated data are more likely to be provided without redaction.

How-To

  1. Search the Glasgow open data portal for existing collision or road-safety datasets and download available files[2].
  2. If the data is unavailable, draft a clear FOI request: include location, date range, fields required and preferred file format, then submit via the council FOI page[1].
  3. Await the council response under FOI timescales; if fees or clarifications are requested respond promptly to avoid delay[3].
  4. If refused, use the council internal review process and, if unresolved, apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner.

Key Takeaways

  • Check the Glasgow open data portal before making an FOI request to save time and avoid fees[2].
  • Use a focused FOI request with clear filters to expedite processing via the council FOI route[1].

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Glasgow City Council FOI and information access
  2. [2] Glasgow City Council Open Data portal
  3. [3] Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

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