Tayside Police has teamed up with Road Safety Scotland for the 2011 country roads awareness campaign to reduce the number of collisions on the region’s twisting rural routes.
Government statistics released this week revealed that nearly 600 people were killed or badly injured in car and motorcycle accidents in Perth and Kinross between 2005 and 2009 — many of which were on minor roads.
A total of 317 were killed or badly injured in Angus and 26 in Dundee in the same period.
After the coldest winter on record and with severe flooding, driving conditions have been increasingly hazardous, but most smashes are a result of driver error and excessive speed, according to Sergeant Watson Fraser.
Sgt Fraser said, ”The tragic consequences that can arise from a momentary lapse in concentration are all too apparent. When things go wrong, the impact on those involved can be devastating and life-changing, but in the majority of cases these are situations that can be avoided by simply heeding some common sense road safety messages.”
He added, “Tayside has some fantastic roads and scenery, which quite rightly attracts drivers and motorcyclists from near and far. The majority of these are very responsible and drive or ride in a safe and appropriate manner.
“Those who choose to drive or ride recklessly might well face consequences which impact on those affected for a lifetime.”
The campaign illustrates how country roads present more challenges than dual carriageways and motorways and show how speed and complacency are closely linked to increased crash risk and the severity of the resulting injuries.
Shocking statistics in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework To 2020 will be highlighted, including:* Nearly one in five drivers has had a ‘near-miss’ on a country road.* 55% of those killed or seriously injured in country road accidents were travelling at an inappropriate speed for the conditions. * 40% of crashes involve single vehicles.* Only 51% of drivers are aware that the national speed limit sign means a maximum of 60mph for cars.
For more information visit www.dontriskit.info