Lawford Kidd's Blog

A new campaign to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries on Scotland’s roads has been launched by road safety charity Brake.

Figures show that 172 people were killed and 1,667 seriously injured on Scottish roads last year, and across the UK as a whole there are five deaths and 61 serious injuries every day.

As part of the campaign, Brake and partners RSA and Specsavers have revealed statistics showing that shocking numbers of drivers are senselessly risking lives by flouting traffic laws. There were 105,807 fixed penalty notices issued for ‘careless driving’ and speeding offences in Scotland in 2013 – one every five minutes.

The road safety charity, Brake, has appealed to employers this week to do more to prevent the deaths and serious injuries of pedestrians and cyclists.

The plea comes after recent government statistics show six people are killed every week while walking or cycling, and a further 157 are seriously injured. The Department of Transport figures therefore prove that pedestrians, cyclist and motorcyclists are our most vulnerable road users, accounting for 59 per cent of all UK road deaths and serious injuries.

Since at least 24 per cent of road deaths and serious injuries involve a vehicle being used for work, it is essential that employers take steps to educate and train staff to improve their understanding of road safety. 

Recent figures from the Department for Transport have revealed a fall of 2% in the number of road deaths in 2013, compared to 2012. Figures are apparently now at their lowest level since national records began in 1926.

According to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), the figures show that in 2013:

• 1,713 people were killed in road accidents.
• The number of people seriously injured decreased by 6% to 21,657, compared to 2012.
• The total number of casualties in road accidents reported to the police in 2013 was 183,670, down 6% from 2012.
• Pedal cyclists’ deaths decreased by 8% to 109 in 2013, compared to 118 in 2012.
• Fatalities on motorways increased by 14%, from 88 to 100.
• Vans and LGVs fatalities increased by 12%, from 33 to 37.
• Motorcycle fatalities on motorways increased by 250% from 4 to 14.
• Child pedestrian fatalities increased by 3%, from 20 to 26.
• Killed and serious injuries for all road users in deprived areas increased by 5%.

“We welcome the overall decrease in road deaths although the long term trends show improvements are slowing down,” commented IAM director of policy of research Neil Greig.

A longer, more aerodynamic cab with better vision for lorry drivers could save the lives of hundreds of cyclists and pedestrians, according to a new study by academics at Loughborough University’s Design School.

The proposed new cab, 80cm longer with a rounded nose, smaller dashboard, expanded glazed areas, and a slightly lower driver position, could drastically reduce blind spots around the lorry.

The ‘Direct Vision’ lorry concept would increase the driver’s field of view in front and to the sides of the lorry by 50% compared to today’s lorry designs, and could save the lives of many vulnerable road users.

A new guide, which is aimed at reducing road traffic accidents in Scotland, has been published by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

The step-by-step guide, which will help councillors in Scotland to prevent road tragedies, was compiled after RoSPA joined forces with Transport Scotland.  Whilst the new guide is primarily aimed at local councillors, it can be used by anyone who wants more information about road safety and how to improve it.

According to the guide, three people still die and 37 seriously injured on Scotland’s road every single week. The risk of being involved in a road traffic accident is higher for some groups, including young drivers, older drivers, at-work drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, pedal cyclists and children.