Calls renewed for speeding crackdown in Aviemore after close call with child
An Aviemore road safety campaigner is calling for a police crackdown on speeding on the village’s main road.
Chris Barrett has said that vehicles are often travelling at twice the 20mph speed limit at the north end of the village.
And he said it was very fortunate that a child was not seriously injured or worse in an incident nearer the centre of the village on Tuesday.
It is understood that a seven or eight year old boy ran out into the road after a ball near the village’s fire station and was nearly hit by a van.
Mr Barrett alleges that the brake marks left on the road show that the van must have been travelling well over 20mph at the time.
He said: “The near eight metre skid marks were left by the van clearly indicating it was doing well in excess of the zone speed as many do in Aviemore
“The van came to a sudden stop centimetres from the child narrowly avoiding knocking him down
“I wasn’t present but the incident was witnessed by my daughter who was walking home at the time around 4pm on Tuesday.”
He continued: “I have approached Police Scotland several times regarding the general excessive speed problem we seem to have on this road in the past and which is on-going.
“Out of interest I went out and measured the skid marks to be just short of eight metres
“This child is so very lucky to be alive today.
“These skid marks surely simply proves how important it is to stick to the speed limits especially in built-up areas.
“This latest incident only prompts me to push for enforced fixed speed cameras in the village and I urge everyone who has similar views to contact their local MP and email Police Scotland to the very serious problem of speeding through our village before someone does get killed.”
Police Scotland’s ‘failure’ to enforce new 20mph speed limits in local communities in the wider Highlands was described as ‘ridiculous’ by one senior Highland councillor earlier this year.
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Highland Council convener Bill Lobban told a police chief at the local area committee meeting in February: “I appreciate that it is not within the control of local police but the idea that we should not be reinforcing 20mph speed limits is just ridiculous and if you can pass that up the line yet again…
“This is something that has been decided upon nationally - wrongly in my opinion.”
The council introduced the temporary reduced limit - down from 30mph - in 125 communities as part of a Scottish Government funded pilot beginning in July 2023.
The restrictions were made permanent after being backed by members at the council’s headquarters earlier in the summer.
Road Policing Inspector Steve Manson said: “Road safety is a priority and we work closely with partner agencies to ensure this.
“We actively monitor collision data, local intelligence, offending history and speed data surveys carried out by our partner agencies to ensure our resources are appropriately deployed.
“The dangers of speeding are well-known. People who speed not only put themselves at risk, but also other members of the public and drivers should take responsibility for their own actions when they get behind the wheel.
“We urge drivers to remain within the speed limit and help ensure safety for themselves and other road users.”