Road safety campaigners have condemned “scary” dashcam footage showing reckless driving at an accident blackspot where a two-year-old girl was knocked down and killed.
The video shows a silver Vauxhall motoring past a line of vehicles parked at traffic lights on the edge of Coupar Angus.
The incident echoes the tragic 2016 crash which claimed the life of little Harlow Edwards.
Motorist Luke Pirie was jailed in October for causing the collision, which also left Harlow’s older sister Dionne and a six-year-old boy severely injured.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that Pirie had tried to overtake a line of stationary traffic on Forfar Road when he collided with a Citreon as it turned right.
The 24-year-old then lost control of his car which struck a wall as Harlow and the two others were walking past.
The latest incident was captured on a driver’s dashcam recorder just after 10am on Sunday. The short clip has been forwarded to Police Scotland.
In the video, the passing car is so filthy it’s impossible to make out the registration plate.
Temporary traffic lights were installed at the stretch as Perth and Kinross Council begin work on a series of improvements, which were put together with the help of Harlow’s parents Sara and Steve.
Local road safety campaign Michael Gallagher, who fought alongside the Edwards family for a roads upgrade, said: “This dashcam video is scary stuff.
“It was just this sort of reckless and impatient driving that caused Harlow’s death last year.”
Mr Gallagher said: “Recently Steve and Sara have been visiting schools and talking about the importance of driving safely. Children need to understand the terrible consequences of reckless driving. They are the drivers of the future.
“However, this is only part of the solution. A culture of safe driving needs to be reinforced by tough speed restrictions.”
Mr Gallagher has called for Perth and Kinross Council officers to follow in the footsteps of counterparts in Fife who have, over the last decade, introduced 20mph zones to the majority of residential areas.
This has led to a downturn in serious road accidents and injuries.
Mr Gallagher questioned the work being done at Coupar Angus.
“The pavement where Harlow was killed is extremely narrow, so there was nowhere for the three injured children to escape from the out-of-control car,” he said.
“Initially the council drew up plans to widen the pavement, but then changed its mind. Instead, they are building a new pavement on the other side of Forfar Road.
“This means that people walking into town will have to cross Forfar Road twice, simply to avoid 20 yards of narrow pavement. This is ludicrous. People will continue to use the narrow section of pavement because it is so much quicker.”
He has called on council bosses to use compulsory purchase powers to buy up a strip of land at the roadside to widen the narrow pavement section.
Local councillor Fiona Sarwar also raised concerns about the video.
“It is shocking and very disappointing to see dangerous driving still occurring on Forfar Road,” she said.
“The council’s work in the area is still ongoing and I hope that these measures will soon have a positive effect.
“However, it takes each driver to mindful of the role they must play in reducing dangerous situations by driving safely.”
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said that roads safety continued to be a priority for the Tayside division and urged any witnesses to get in touch.
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “The programme of road safety improvement works on Forfar Road was agreed following detailed consultation with the local community, community council and elected members.
“The second phase of traffic signal installation on Forfar Road, Coupar Angus, as part of this overall programme, is currently underway. We hope to have the traffic signals operational at the Forfar Road / Princeland Road / Coupar Angus Road junction for 22 December, subject to winter weather conditions.
“The dashcam footage being referred to is a matter for Police Scotland to review and determine if any action should be taken, and we would encourage the member of the public with this footage to contact Police Scotland with their concerns.”
