In the last few months it seems every time I read the news there is another report of someone, be they a driver, passenger, cyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian, suffering injury as a result of a road traffic accident. I was not surprised therefore to read in the news that road deaths have increased by a third in the Lothians in the last eight months.

Tragically it has been reported that 17 people have lost their lives in the last eight months in the Lothians as a result of road traffic accidents, an increase from 12 for the same period in the previous years. Furthermore, hundreds of other people have been injured but not fatally injured as a result of road traffic accidents. Not only do the accidents and injuries sustained as a result of road traffic accidents affect the individual involved they also affect that persons’ family and loved ones.

Despite roads being declared as being safer than ever, figures show the number of road deaths appears to be increasing throughout the UK.

Lothian and Borders police have stated that they are committed to reducing the number of casualties arising as a result of road accidents.

The sooner the statistics of road deaths can be lowered the better. Hopefully research will be carried out in relation to the increase in road deaths in the Lothians and the UK generally to enable action to be taken to reduce the number of people losing their lives on our roads.