Road Safety

Over the five year period from 2002 to 2006 on average:

  • 613 people are injured each year in road accidents in the Borders (51 children).
  • 116 fatal and serious injuries (10 children) occur each year.

Road safety directly involves all road users – virtually the entire population. It is a complex issue encompassing a diverse range of problems and solutions. Roads are one of the most dangerous environments in which the majority of people will ever operate, yet they feel relatively safe and society accepts a higher casualty rate than for other forms of transport or environment.

Road traffic accidents do not have a single cause. They result from a number of contributory factors that combine in a way that leads to a road user failing to cope in a particular situation.

The main factor is human error.

Scottish Borders Road Safety Working Group

In 2006 the Scottish Borders Road Safety Working Group was established which brought together partner agencies representing engineering, enforcement and education to develop a more joined-up and active approach to the issue of road safety.

The fundamental road safety issues on Borders roads are:

  • Young drivers
  • Motorcyclists
  • Speeding
  • Drink and driving
  • At work road safety
  • Fatigue
  • Seat belts
  • Winter driving

The aim of the Group is to reduce the number of road accidents by undertaking the following:

  • Raise and maintain public awareness of road safety issues:
  • Research, analyse and monitor the reasons for road accident casualties in the Scottish Borders.
  • Develop strategies to address key road safety problems.
  • Co-ordinate road safety activity in the Scottish Borders so as to maximise the effectiveness of initiatives.
  • Contribute towards achievement of the Scottish Government’s targets for casualty reduction by the year 2010 (and subsequent targets for 2020).
  • Evaluate road safety activities to ensure the efficient and effective use of resources.

The aim is to reduce the number of road accidents on Borders roads by the following;

  • Raise and maintain public awareness of road safety issues.
  • Research, analyse and monitor the reasons for road accident casualties in the Scottish Borders.
  • Develop strategies to address key road safety problems.
  • Co-ordinate road safety activity in the Scottish Borders so as to maximise the effectiveness of initiatives.
  • Contribute towards achievement of the Scottish Government’s targets for casualty reduction by the year 2010 (and subsequent targets for 2020).
  • Evaluate road safety activities to ensure the efficient and effective use of resources.

The 2010 targets

The current Government targets for 2010 provided an ambitious challenge for everyone:

Based on the average casualties for 1994-1998, the 2010 targets seek to achieve:

  • a 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured
  • a 50% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured
  • a 10% reduction in the slight casualty rate, expressed as the number of people slightly injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres.

Whilst progress to achieve this target across Scotland has been very encouraging, the same cannot be said for the Scottish Borders. At the end of 2006 the latest five year average figures for 2002-2006 compared with the 1994 -1998 baseline reveals significant differences (Source: Road Accidents Scotland 2006 (latest figures available).

210 Targets
2010 Target Scottish Borders 2002-2006 compared with 1994-1998 baseline average Scotland 2002-2006 compared with 1994-1998 baseline average
40% reduction in the number of killed or seriously injured 1% increase 35% decrease
50% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured 11% increase 32% decrease
10% reduction in the slight casualty rate, (the number of people slightly injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres). 13% decrease 23% decrease

Note: The Scottish Government will shortly be announcing new targets for 2020.

The challenge facing everyone in the Scottish Borders is to reduce the number of road accidents on rural roads.

Further Information

Local contacts

Fiona Lackenby, Road Safety officer Tel: 01450 364457
Email: fiona.lackenby@lbp.pnn.police,uk

Karen McGrath, School travel plan co-ordinator Tel: 01835 825876
Email: KMcGrath@lbp.pnn.police.uk

Paul Richardson Community Safety Officer Tel: 01835 825058
Email: prichardson@scotborders.gov.uk

SB Local ~Report a local road fault: Tel: 0300 100 1800
http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/council/departmentsandservices/technicalservices/3562415.html

Neil Dyson South of Scotland Timber Transport Officer Tel: 01387260367
Email: neil.dyson@dumgal.gov.uk

Borders Institute of Advanced Motorists (Car) Tel: Eddie Robertson on 01573 450216
http://www.bordersiam.org.uk/

Borders Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM)
http://www.bgam.org.uk/

Further Links

Road Safety Scotland
http://www.road-safety.org.uk/

Dft Think Road Safety
http://www.think.dft.gov.uk/

Scottish Borders Council Out and About
http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/outabout/gettingaround/index.html

Scottish Borders Council Winter Travel
http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/outabout/gettingaround/wintertravel/

Scottish Borders Council School Travel Plans
http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/life/educationandlearning/schools/gettingtoschool/index.html

Scottish Borders Local
http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/council/departmentsandservices/technicalservices/3562415.html

Lothian & Borders Safety Camera Partnership
http://www.lbsafetycameras.co.uk/

Lothian & Borders Police
http://www.lbp.police.uk/

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service
http://www.lbfire.org.uk/fire_safety/safety_roadsafety.htm

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/index.htm

Bear Scotland (Borders trunk roads)
http://www.se.bearscot.com/

Around the Corner
http://www.aroundthecorner.org.uk/

Bike Safe
http://www.bikesafe.co.uk/

Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM)
http://www.iam.org.uk/

Driving Standards Agency
http://www.dsa.gov.uk/

Get in Lane (Young driver website)
http://www.getinlane.com/

Helping learner drivers
http://www.helpingldrivers.com/

Child safety seat campaign
http://www.protectchild.co.uk/

Child car seats
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/

Children and Traffic Club
http://www.trafficclub.co.uk/

Junior Road Safety Officers
http://www.jrso.com/

Streetwise Guys
http://www.streetwiseguys.co.uk/

British Horse Society
http://www.bhs.org.uk/