From Transport Scotland yesterday:

Provisional road casualty figures released today by Transport Scotland show a decrease in road fatalities between 2024 and 2025, and a reduction in overall casualties over the same period.

In 2025 there were 134 road fatalities, a decrease [16.25%] of 26 from 160 in 2024. There were 1,906 serious casualties in 2025, a reduction of 4% from the 1,978 recorded in 2024. Slight casualties decreased by 3% (from 3,594 to 3,495), meaning that total casualties also reduced by 3% (from 5,732 to 5,535).

Road casualties were higher than in 2020 and 2021 when the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions led to reduced travel. However, in 2025 the number of fatalities and the total number of casualties were the lowest recorded in a non-pandemic year.

Source: https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/decrease-in-number-of-people-killed-on-scotland-s-roads-2/

From the graph above, we see a 55% decrease from just over 300 in 2007 to only 134.

How are BBC Scotland covering this positive news on the day before a by-election?

Not at all but they do have a two-lorry crash closing the A9 and a road death in Glasgow to help you think things might be bad on the roads.