The Scottish Government is urging drivers to slow down as the latest data from Transport Scotland shows that one in five deaths on Scottish roads are caused by speeding.
In partnership with Road Safety Scotland and with the endorsement of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), the Scottish Government has launched a campaign that urges drivers to slow down to reduce the number and severity of collisions on the road.
One thing highlighted by the campaign is that even a small drop in speed can make a difference; research from the Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) has shown that a reduction in speed from 65mph to 60mph could halve the number of fatal collisions caused by drivers.
Rural roads are also addressed by the campaign; Transport Scotland data from 2024 shows that, whilst these non-built-up roads only see 42% of reported road casualties in Scotland, they account for 64% of road deaths due to their higher speed limits.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, said: ‘No matter how experienced you are as a driver, collisions can happen to anyone. We know that speeding makes collisions more likely and more serious, and no-one should die or be seriously injured on our roads. You only have to lose control once, and the consequences can be devastating.
‘We're urging drivers to make our roads safer for everyone by reducing their speed.'
SFRS deputy assistant chief officer Kenny Barbour added: ‘Driving at speed not only places the driver and any passengers at risk, but everyone else on the road, particularly pedestrians and cyclists. Sadly, many of our crews have responded to road traffic collisions and they witness the devastating aftermath. We always urge drivers to stick to speed limits and to drive to road and weather conditions to help keep themselves and others safe.'
