Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
The number of deaths and serious injuries on Scotland's roads fell to their lowest level for more than 50 years in 2007, according to latest statistics released today.Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson welcomed the new figures, but said that the Scottish Government would not be complacent and would continue to do all it can to reduce accidents even further.
Provisional statistics for the UK from the UK Department for Transport show 282 people died on Scotland's roads in 2007 (a 10 per cent decrease from 2006), with 2,315 people seriously injured (12 per cent fewer than 2006).
A full breakdown for Scotland will be published on Monday when provisional statistics for Scotland-only are published.
Commenting on the DfT statistics, Mr Stevenson said:
"These are encouraging statistics and I welcome the fall. However, we cannot and will not be complacent.
"It is clear that we can all do more to get our road safety messages across to people of all ages and all driving abilities.
"Road fatalities may be at their lowest level for more than 50 years, but 282 people dying on our roads is still 282 too many.
"The Scottish Government wants to do all we can to reduce that number even further and stop the heartache being experienced by too many families across the country.
"We are currently working with the some of the leading thinkers on road safety from across Scotland and Europe to help inform a new Road Safety Strategy for Scotland which will be published later this year.
"The DfT is also consulting on plans to change the driver training and testing regime which I welcome - legislative change and updating the driver testing system will be important tools in our efforts to reduce accidents.
"Meanwhile, I would urge drivers to heed the warnings, not to be complacent, and to drive safely."
Scotland figures contained in this publication are based on a snapshot of data taken on April 25 this year.
