AN average of 34 people are killed or seriously injured every week on Scotland’s roads, according to the newest research.
The total number of people who lost their lives last year as a result of traffic accidents was 161 – an 11% increase on the 2017 total of 145. A further 1582 were seriously injured.
The findings have been published to mark today’s launch of national Road Safety Week, with campaigners calling for people in Scotland to work together to make the roads and streets safer.
The survey by road safety charity Brake found that three in 10 adults in Scotland (28%), were involved in a collision or had a near miss on a UK road in the past year.
Road safety campaigners believe that crashes and near misses have a big impact on people’s perceptions of safety, making streets feel less welcoming and preventing people from choosing to walk and cycle, modes of transport which reduce the danger for others.
“This paints an alarming picture of the danger on Scotland’s roads and yet it’s what we’re all exposed to, every day, when getting about,” said Brake campaigns director Joshua Harris.
“We shouldn’t have to accept this level of risk as part of our daily lives and so we are calling on everyone to step up for Road Safety Week and shout out for the solutions that we know can make our roads safe.
“Across Scotland, people are working tirelessly to campaign for safe streets, meeting with MPs and councillors to raise money and awareness.
Brake also organises petitions such as their ‘Roads to Justice’ campaign which called for for the government to review its guidelines on sentencing those caught driving dangerously.
“This Road Safety Week, we want everyone to think about how they can step up for safe streets.”
Steps that can be taken include reducing car use, which will improve safety and air quality, and pledging to be a safe driver by always keeping within speed limits and never drinking or taking drugs and driving.
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