Road safety strategy

People across the country are being asked to help shape a new 10 year road safety strategy which aims to cut the death toll on Scotland's roads.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson is keen to hear views from the public, road safety organisations, the police, fire services, local authorities, young people, and others before a strategy is drawn up to tackle the problem later this year.

Launching the consultation today, Mr Stevenson said:

"Too many families are still suffering the heartache of a loved one being lost.

"We need a new approach which looks beyond the traditional and towards the new and innovative if we are to get our messages across to Scotland's drivers.

"I have set up a group of some of the leading thinkers on road safety to help advise us on what more can be done, but I am keen to hear a wide range of opinions from across the country.

"The traumatic experiences in regions such as the North East, Highlands, Fife, Tayside,the Borders, and Central belt, and other regions across the country will have given people a tragic insight into road accidents. An insight which could help us save lives.

"Those on the front line who have experienced road accidents at first hand, or even those who have been indirectly affected, will have their own views on what should be done. I want to hear them.

"This consultation is an important part of our planning for a new 10 year road safety strategy, and I hope everyone takes the opportunity to respond. It could save lives."

The consulation on a new Road Safety Strategy was launched today, and views are being sought by April 25, 2008. The Scottish Government aim to publish the strategy in Autumn 2008.

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing a 10 year plan to transform Scottish road safety. A Panel of Experts has been set up to advise on possible measures.

The members of the Panel are:

• Chief Constable John Vine, ACPOS
• Neil Greig, Director, IAM Trust
• Michael McDonnell, Director, Road Safety Scotland
• Steve Stradling, Professor of Transport Psychology, Napier University. Expert in driver behaviour.
• Jane Greer, Chair of Institute of Road Safety Officers and first policewoman in Fife to achieve a Class 1 Advanced Driving Certificate
• Dr Steve Lawson, Technical Director, Road Safety Foundation and European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP)
• Kathleen Marshall, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
• Dr Bob McLellan, civil engineer and Head of Transportation Services at Fife Council and past Chair of the Society for Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) Engineering Committee

Progress has been made in reducing road casualties in recent years with a general downward trend emerging. The number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents in Scotland in 2006 was 39 per cent lower than the average for 1994-98 and the number of children killed or seriously injured was 56 per cent lower.

However, latest statistics show that road deaths rose by 10 per cent to 314 in 2006, and 14 more children died. Motorcyclist deaths and serious casualties have also risen by 13 per cent compared with the average for 1994-98. Seven out of ten fatal accidents occur on non built-up roads and around one in nine road deaths is alcohol related.

Accident involvement as a car driver is highest for males aged 17-22 and the risk of injury is higher for males than for females.