Road safety charity urges "look out for each other"

A charity wants to reduce road deaths in Scotland by encouraging other drivers “to look out for each other.”

Road safety group Brake wants to reduce the 172 people killed and 1,667 injured on Scotland’s roads last year.

It is being backed by bereaved families of people killed on Scotland’s roads.

Brake deputy chief executive Julie Townsend urged motorists to look carefully and stick to 20mph or below in towns and villages.

She said: "When drivers use roads without care for others the consequences can be tragic and horrific - people killed and badly injured, lives ruined forever, because of a moment of impatience or selfishness.

At Brake we witness the suffering that results, daily, through our work supporting people affected by road death and injury

"At Brake we witness the suffering that results, daily, through our work supporting people affected by road death and injury.”

Brake also revealed the results of a survey of 900 primary school children in Scotland.

It found three in five (62%) children thought roads in their community could be dangerous for walking and cycling, while 44% said they had been hit or nearly hit by a vehicle while on foot or bike.

The campaign is being backed by Caroline MacIntyre, whose husband Jason, a well-known Scottish racing cyclist, died after he was hit by a truck while on his bike in 2008.

She said: "The crash has had a catastrophic impact on our lives; it is with us on a daily basis, not only for me, but for our daughters.

“"So my message to drivers is please, slow down and take your time to look out for people - don't risk destroying lives."

Scotland's Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "This campaign raises awareness of key issues which need to be addressed if we are to continue to make good progress towards meeting our road casualty reduction targets.

"Working with our partners we must continue to ensure that everyone plays their part to make our roads safer."