New 'egg' campaign launched to cut pedestrian casualties
Pedestrians are shown as painted eggs to highlight their fragility in the latest Scottish road safety campaign, launched today.
The In Town Slow Down adverts include a mother and baby in a pushchair, schoolchildren and a pensioner about to be hit by objects such as a brick and sledgehammer to demonstrate the impact of a vehicle collision.
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Hide AdThe vast majority of pedestrian casualties happen in built-up areas, but a poll published to coincide with the campaign showed nearly nine in ten people thought that being hit by a vehicle at 30mph would not be fatal.
Road Safety Scotland said pedestrians were seven times as likely to be killed if hit at 30mph than 20mph.
The number of pedestrians killed on Scotland’s roads increased by 18 to 56 in 2014, according to the latest available annual figures.
More than 1,700 were injured, although that was down slightly on the previous year.
Transport minister Derek Mackay said: “This campaign reminds people of the importance of driving at an appropriate speed for the environment and the conditions in built-up areas.
“Simple mistakes can have serious consequences for both drivers and pedestrians, which is why we’re reminding drivers - ‘In Town, Slow Down’.”
Superintendent Fraser Candlish, deputy head of road policing at Police Scotland, said: “People should drive sensibly in town centres.
“They should slow down as the number of hazards increase, and keep a watchful eye out for pedestrians at all times.”