MSP BACKS ROAD SAFETY WEEK

Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has highlighted the importance of Road Safety Week, which runs from the 7th - 13th November.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr Stevenson said:

“It is astonishing to learn that every day, ten people are killed and ten times as many are seriously injured on Britain's roads alone. We need to raise consciousness of road safety.

“Traffic is the biggest killer of 12-16 year-olds in Britain. Last year alone, deaths of 12-19 year-olds on foot rose by 26% from the previous year (from 87 in 2002 to 110 in 2003). Each and every one of us should make certain that we do all that we can to encourage drivers to slow down, especially around schools and in residential areas.

“If a child on foot is hit by a vehicle travelling at 35mph, they are more than twice as likely to die than if they were hit at 30mph. Staying well within speed limits is therefore essential for the safety of children who are walking and cycling.

“All road users should carry that thought uppermost in their minds when driving and be wary of road safety and especially the dangers that exist for children.”