Between 2001 and 2011 the number of people being killed has dropped by 47% & people being seriously injured by 45%

Between 2001 and 2011 the number of people being killed has dropped by 47% & people being seriously injured by 45%

• Between 2001 and 2011 the number of people being killed has dropped by 47% & people being seriously injured by 45%

• Road accidents in Scotland are at an all time low

• 2,061 people were killed or seriously injured on Scotland’s roads in 2011, 399 of these casualties were as a result of accidents on the trunk road network

• While most accidents stem from driver behaviour, safer road design can make a significant contribution to reducing the rate of accidents

• Optimum casualty reduction can best be achieved through working in partnership with those involved in education and enforcement

• Scottish Ministers have published challenging casualty reductions for 2020 that are specific to Scotland

The A9 Trunk Road is the main route that connects central Scotland and the Highlands

• The A9 Trunk Road is the main route that connects central Scotland and the Highlands

• It stretches from Dunblane, situated north of Stirling, and travels north bypassing Perth and Inverness before finishing in Thurso

• The route is made up of single and dual carriageways with varying speed limits

• It carries a broad mix of road users comprising local drivers, commuters, freight transport and tourist traffic

“The A9 Safety Group is tasked to work together before and during the A9 dualling programme to explore any measures which could be introduced on the route to positively influence driver behaviour in a way that helps reduce road casualties”

• “The A9 Safety Group is tasked to work together before and during the A9 dualling programme to explore any measures which could be introduced on the route to positively influence driver behaviour in a way that helps reduce road casualties”

The A9 Safety Group was set up by Transport Scotland in July 2012

• The A9 Safety Group was set up by Transport Scotland in July 2012

• The multi-agency group is made up of representatives from

High severity of accidents at junctions

• High severity of accidents at junctions

• • 53% of right turn accidents are KSI’s (Killed or seriously Injured) compared to a north east unit average of 29%

• Higher number of accidents involving HGV’s above 7.5 tonnes

• • 17% involve HGV’s compared to a north east unit average of 9%

• High number of single vehicle accidents striking roadside objects

• Loss of control, failing to look properly, failing to judge other persons speed, careless/reckless, travelling too fast for the conditions and poor turning practices are the most common recorded contributory factors

77% of all KSI accidents occurred on single carriageways

• 77% of all KSI accidents occurred on single carriageways

• Single carriageway KSI ratio (0.32) is above the trunk road national average (0.24)

• HGV’s above 7.5 Tonnes are nearly 3 times more likely to be involved in an injury accident on single carriageways than they are on other Scottish trunk road single carriageways

• Goods vehicles under 7.5 tonnes are involved in 13.6% of accidents on single carriageway sections compared to a north west unit average of 7%

• Loss of control, failing to look properly, failing to judge other persons speed, careless/reckless in a hurry and travelling too fast for conditions are common recorded contributory factors

High severity of accidents at junctions

• High severity of accidents at junctions

• • 43% of accidents occurred at a junction compared to a north west unit average of 26%

• Turning right manoeuvres is the most common vehicle manoeuvres in accidents

• • 13.5% compared to a north west unit average of 6.1%

• Failing to look properly, loss of control, failing to judge other persons speed, careless/reckless and poor turning practices are the most common recorded contributory factors

Analysis of collision history to inform messages

• Analysis of collision history to inform messages

• Contribution from Road Safety Scotland and partners to develop campaign strategies

• Set up a brand and strapline to promote future initiatives

• Creation of a dedicated website to be a platform for communication

• Set up a communications strategy to promote safety campaigns

• Work has begun on the first A9 Safety Group campaign on overtaking

Speed Enforcement by Northern, Tayside and Central Safety Camera Partnerships (SCPs)

• Speed Enforcement by Northern, Tayside and Central Safety Camera Partnerships (SCPs)

• SCP enforcement through 5 Fixed Safety Cameras

• Dunblane to Perth (3)
• Perth to Inverness (2)

• And widespread mobile enforcement (109 sites) across the entire route

• SCP’s reported that the level of detected offences remain a concern

• Between 1 July and 30 September 2013 over 4000 traffic offences were reported and 3869 were related to speeding

• Police Scotland Trunk Roads Patrol Group was formed to raise visibility with the public across the trunk road network which includes the A9

• Aim to positively influence driver behaviour and enforce legislation with a view to reducing casualties

Projected spend of £18.5 million on maintenance works that covers

• Projected spend of £18.5 million on maintenance works that covers

• Surfacing
• Signing
• Lining
• Landscaping
• Lighting*
• Safety Barrier
• Bridges
• Minor Improvements
• Targeted Road Safety Schemes

• *Passively safe lighting columns at Auchterarder

Education Initiatives

• Education Initiatives

• Before and after A9 user surveys
• Carry out further research on driver frustration
• Public information events to be held in later this year
• First road safety campaign on overtaking
• Education around National Speed Limits and Driver Behaviour

Enforcement Initiatives

• Enforcement Initiatives

• High visibility patrolling
• Greater use of motorcycles and unmarked vehicles
• Focused campaigns on speeding, dangerous driving, careless driving and other risk behaviours
• Targeted initiatives dealing with events on or around the route
• Continued use of Safety Cameras
• Review of existing deployment sites to consider use at additional locations
• Install average speed cameras

Transport Research Laboratory with SIAS Consultancy carried out research into the potential impacts of increasing the HGV speed limit on single carriageway sections of the A9 along with the deployment of an average speed camera system

• Transport Research Laboratory with SIAS Consultancy carried out research into the potential impacts of increasing the HGV speed limit on single carriageway sections of the A9 along with the deployment of an average speed camera system

• Following a members debate in Parliament (February 2013) the Minister for Transport and Veterans asked the A9 Safety Group to consider HGV Speed Limit and Average Speed Cameras

• The research indicated that the introduction of effective speed enforcement alone would result in a decrease in accidents.

• The research indicates Average Speed Cameras (ASCs) will improve safety, regardless of whether the HGV above 7.5 Tonnes speed limit is retained at 40 mph (or increased to 50 mph)

• However, it indicates that the operation of cameras at 40 mph is the safest option and the group agreed Average Speed Cameras will improve safety on the A9

Transport Minister announced that average speed cameras were to be installed following advice from the A9SG

• Transport Minister announced that average speed cameras were to be installed following advice from the A9SG

• The A9 system will be the second in Scotland, the first was installed on the A77 in Ayrshire between Bogend Toll and Ardwell Bay in 2005.

• In the first 3 years of operation it delivered a 46 per cent reduction in the number of people being killed and 35 per cent reduction in seriously injured

• The system will operate on sections of the road between Keir Roundabout (Dunblane) and Raigmore Interchange (Inverness). This is approximately 136 miles (220 km’s)

• It is expected that the cost of the system will be in the region of £2.5 million. Transport Scotland as the Trunk Road Authority will pay for this initiative

• The nature of the A9 in terms of its length, forward visibility/geometry, vehicle speeds and accident record (high proportion of KSI accidents which by nature are often a function of speed, and wide distribution of accidents across the route) indicate that an ASCS could positively influence road safety on this route

• Therefore the scheme should pay for itself through accident savings within the first year of its operation.

The A9 Safety Group considered the benefits and dis-benefits of the proposal for a 50 mph HGV pilot with Average Speed Cameras

• The A9 Safety Group considered the benefits and dis-benefits of the proposal for a 50 mph HGV pilot with Average Speed Cameras

• The A9 Safety Group subsequently agreed that after reviewing the available evidence and research that Average Speed Cameras will have a positive impact on driver behaviour and safety on the A9

• The modelling showed retaining the 40 mph HGV speed limit to be the safest option.

• The Group has not dismissed raising HGV speed limits to 50 mph and is undertaking further work to better understand the suitability of a pilot speed limit increase.