Safety drive now moving into top gear

Nov 19 2008 by Graham Miller, Wishaw Press

NORTH Lanarkshire’s road fatality statistics are beating national targets.

The figures recently published by the local authority show the numbers for road fatalities and serious casualties in the North Lanarkshire area are two years ahead of schedule.

And the figures also surpassed the council’s own more stringent 2010 targets for casualty reduction.

Graham Mackay, Head of Roads and Transportation at North Lanarkshire Council said that the figures are a result of strong action take by the local authority to reduce the number of serious accidents in the area.

He continued“We take a proactive and a reactive approach to road safety in North Lanarkshire.

“We have rolled out advisory 20mph limits in all residential areas and are piloting mandatory 20mph zones in three residential areas of the district.

“The council have also recently completed the introduction of part time mandatory 20mph limits at all schools on main roads and are presently reviewing the speed limits on A and B classified roads.

“Five out of the eight fatalities this year have involved the 17 to 25 age group, and a further two fatalities involved pedestrians over 60 years of age.

“Young drivers are a particular concern to the authorities, and as a member of the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum, along with the 11 other local authorities in the West of Scotland, we are playing a key role in educating young drivers on the dangers of Scotland’s roads.”

The West of Scotland Road Safety Forum’s young driver campaign, which has just come to an end, highlights the dangers young drivers face on the road and the possible consequences. The forum is now aiming to target pedestrians aged 60-years-old and over.

Councillor James Coyle, Convener of North Lanarkshire Council’s Planning and Transportation Committee, said: “In 2000, the Scottish Government set targets to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Scotland’s roads and at North Lanarkshire Council we set ourselves more stringent targets to further reduce these incidents.”

A spokesperson for Strathclyde Police confirmed that enforcement is now taking place at the mandatory speed limits and reiterated concerns about young drivers.

He also had a word of warning for all drivers in the run-up to the festive season, saying that drink driving will not be tolerated.