Transport Scotland has recently published its 2015 Road Safety Framework Annual Report, which sets out progress made against Government targets contained within the Road Safety Framework.

One of the key areas covered in the report is the impact of recent changes to Scotland’s drink-driving legislation. 2015 marked the first full year of Scotland’s new reduced drink-drive limit, and evidence has suggested that the introduction of the new limit has dissuaded drivers from drink-driving, with a 7.6% reduction in the number of drivers caught over the limit in 2015 compared with 2014.

The report also looked at the impact of speed cameras on driver behaviour, and in particular the impact of average speed cameras on the A9. These went live in October 2014, and their introduction coincided with a pilot project raising the speed limit to 50mph for HGVs on single carriageway sections of the route between Perth and Inverness. According to the report, indications suggest that driver behaviour has improved markedly, with levels of excess speeding reduced substantially.

In addition, the report looked at progress made against the Scottish Government’s commitment to encourage Local Authorities to consider 20mph zones in all residential areas. It notes that Edinburgh City Council approved a new city-wide speed limit network at the start of 2015, with a rollout completion date of February 2018. Dundee and Glasgow City Councils are also exploring plans to introduce 20mph roads in residential areas.

“The publication of this annual report shows we are doing the right things, at the right time, in the right place as we continue to press hard for improvements in Scotland’s road safety record,” commented Transport Minister Derek Mackay. “Preventing loss of life on our roads is a shared responsibility and Scottish Ministers remain resolute in our efforts to drive down risks.”

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

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Source:

http://www.transport.gov.scot/news/road-safety-annual-report-shows-improving-picture