As winter approaches, and the first significant weather events of the season having already taken place, Police Scotland is urging drivers to take care on the roads.
Head of Road Policing, Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, said, “Following the record low of 146 road deaths in the whole of 2017, this has not been a good year so far for safety on Scotland’s roads. Since April, 108 people have lost their lives – 27 people including a young boy in July alone. Each death is a tragedy leaving families and friends bereaved, often with life-changing consequences for those who survive but are caught up in the aftermath.
“Despite running a number of campaigns, including those aimed at vulnerable road users such as cyclists and horse riders, the number of deaths so far this year is around 20 per cent higher than at this time last year. We have also seen an increase in the number of motorcycle deaths rise to 27 riders and three pillion passengers. Very few of the fatalities have been due to rider gross error or reckless riding and many of the fatalities and injuries sustained by motorcyclists have been due to motorists failing to look properly at junctions or when overtaking.
“As we head from autumn into winter, all road users must look out for each other and drivers should be prepared to slow down when encountering low winter sunshine, which is a causation factor for many shunt collisions during morning commute time.
“It is particularly important for motorists to take care not to collide with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, who are most vulnerable. The larger the size of your vehicle, the faster you are driving, the greater harm it can cause if you lose control and collide with another road user.
“Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists must be aware of their surroundings too, and where possible, wear bright clothing, use lights and ‘be seen’ by motorists. Darker mornings and evenings with foul weather, increase the risks that road users will not be seen until it is too late – and bright and high visibility clothing will increase the distance at which a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist will be seen.
“Police Scotland is working hard with its partners in Road Safety Scotland and at Traffic Scotland to keep people moving safely on Scotland’s roads. Go safe, it’s everyone’s responsibility to respect each other’s right to use Scotland’s roads and by doing so you are protecting not only yourself but others round about you.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
