Scottish Government drive to improve overtaking on A9
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Road users on Scotland’s longest road are being urged to think before pulling out to overtake in a new safety campaign for the A9.
The move is the first in a series of targeted efforts from the Scottish Government to raise awareness of road safety issues on the killer road before and during the dualling which is to be completed by 2025.
Despite road accidents in Scotland sitting at an all-time low, the latest statistics available show that between 2008 and 2012, over 40% of fatal accidents on single carriageway sections of the A9 involved overtaking.
Minister for Transport and Veterans, Keith Brown, said: "The issues faced on the A9 are complex and we are adopting a wide range of measures to address these ahead of dualling.
"We are focusing on the three strands of engineering, education and enforcement and this campaign is the first in a series which will address driver behaviour and help people make better and more informed decisions when they are behind the wheel.
"Road users tell us that they are concerned about the number of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres that they see on the route and the aim of this campaign is to give drivers the knowledge to overtake safely, without putting their lives or those of fellow road users at risk."
The campaign features a new website - www.a9road.info - to give motorists reliable real-time traffic, travel and weather reports as well as practical safety advice and information.
Head of Road Policing at Police Scotland, Superintendent Iain Murray, said: "Sadly this year we have had occasions on the roads in Scotland where overtaking manoeuvres have ended in tragedy so the simple rule must be ‘if in doubt, don’t risk it’."
The 138-mile "Spine of Scotland" runs from the central belt to the Highlands and acts as a lifeline for many businesses, residents and tourists.
Highland MP Danny Alexander has welcomed the campaign inspired by the A9 Safety Group.
At a meeting with the group in Inverness he heard the broad range of measures the group are looking at to improve road safety on the A9.
While condemning the SNP plan for average speed cameras, now delayed until after the independence referendum, he endorsed the Safety Group’s overtaking campaign: "Its mission of making the route safer is one that I wholeheartedly support.
"Campaigns such as the one launched today are welcome and exactly the kind of public information measures the government should be focussing on.
"I hope motorists will take today’s message about safer overtaking to heart.
"Hundreds of Highlanders have contacted me voicing their opposition to average speed cameras. "I’m grateful to the A9 safety group for taking time today to explain why they back the plan.
"I would urge SNP Ministers in Edinburgh to think again about their decision to impose average speed cameras on the Highlands."
