A CHARITY is calling for measures to cut the number of accidents on Scotland’s roads.
Released as part of Road Safety Week, new analysis from Brake found that exceeding the speed limit was a factor in 291 crashes in Scotland last year, a rise of more than a quarter (26 per cent) since 2013.
The charity found further that travelling faster than was responsible for the conditions contributed to 510 crashes during 2016.
Figures released by the Scottish Government earlier in the year showed 159 people were killed and more than 9700 were injured in the year up until June. That number represents a 14 per cent rise on the previous year.
“Driving is unpredictable and if something unexpected happens on the road ahead, such as a child stepping out from between parked cars, it’s a driver’s speed that determines whether they can stop in time and, if they can’t, how hard they will hit,” said Jason Wakeford, director of campaigns for Brake.
“That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to ‘Speed Down Save Lives’ for Road Safety Week this year.”
Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell in May lodged a bill that proposed reducing the current 30mph default speed limit on restricted roads to 20mph. Brake pledged its support for proposals in September.
Studies have shown that driving at 20mph, as opposed to 30 mph, prevents 20 per cent of road traffic casualties and that victims are seven times more likely to survive.
Wakeford said: “We fully support Mark Ruskell’s proposed bill and want to see more urban areas going 20 right across the UK.”
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said:“Average speed camera systems on the A9 and A77 have proven that encouraging improved driver behaviour can lead to a significant reduction in road casualties – that is why we have invested a further £2 million installing a similar system on the A90.
“We also took decisive action by lowering the drink-drive limit in 2014.”
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