Road traffic accidents on Scotland’s rural roads are all too common. One of the worst blackspots in Scotland for road traffic accidents is reported to be on the A9 Perth to Inverness route. Although the overall death toll as a result of road traffic accidents on Scotland’s roads has fallen in recent years, experts say more could be done to further reduce fatalities on Scotland’s roads.

Human error is thought to be the biggest cause of road traffic accidents but improving road design is believed to minimise the risks posed to drivers. Very recently, the ground investigations work began on the A9 dual carriageway program. The start of works that are said to be the one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Scotland’s history.

It is hoped that the duelling of the A9 will improve road safety and reduce the number of road traffic accidents.  It has been reported in the past that the major problem with the A9 is that drivers become frustrated stuck behind slow moving vehicles with little opportunity to overtake. It also changes frequently between single and dual carriageway which causes confusion for drivers not familiar with the road.

The Scottish Government has set itself a target to reduce the number of people fatally injured on Scotland’s roads by 40 per cent and to reduce the number of people seriously injured on Scotland’s roads by 55 per cent by 2020. I sincerely hope that the Scottish Government succeed in their target. As a representative of the Government said even one death on Scotland’s roads is unacceptable.