Figures show 154 speed related collisions in Edinburgh and the Lothians in 2019
A powerful new campaign by The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland* to tackle the serious issue of speeding, has launched with a clear message for all drivers – There’s no excuse for speeding.
There were 154 speed related collisions in Edinburgh and the Lothians in 2019, with contributory factors including exceeding the speed limit, travelling too fast for the conditions and careless/reckless driving.1
Latest figures show that speed is a contributory factor in 15% of all fatal and serious collisions in Scotland – a total of 848 collisions, 42 fatalities and 244 serious injuries.2
The majority of people (at least occasionally) exceed the legal speed limit:
- 39% of people admit to exceeding the speed limit by 5mph in 30mph zones at least once in the past year
- 27% admit to exceeding the speed limit by 5mph in 20mph areas in the last year
- 40% of drivers think it is safe to exceed the speed limit slightly on motorways
- 11% admit to having driven at least once in the past year at 90mph on the motorway.3
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson said: “Speed is a key priority for the Scottish Government and an integral part of the Road Safety Framework to 2030. Speeding is a severe problem that causes too many fatal and serious collisions every year.
“A collision involving speed affects more than just you and your car – it also has an impact on your family, the victim’s family, the emergency services, and people who witness it. The message of this campaign is clear – speeding is always a risk. However you chose to try and justify it, it’s still speeding and there’s no excuse for it.”
Police Scotland officers hear many excuses from speeders:
- I was about to run out of fuel and had to get to the petrol station quicker
- I was clearing the diesel particulate filter out
- The catalytic converter warning light had come on, so I was trying to clean it out
- I`ve just bought the new “Call of Duty” and I`m desperate to get home and play it
- Why didn`t you stop the car in front, he was going much faster than me
- There were no workmen near the road
- You should be here at nine o`clock, they are much faster
- I was going to miss my Tee off time, it`s the club championship today.
The most common excuses include running out of petrol, the road being quiet, and other traffic also being perceived as exceeding the speed limit.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams, Police Scotland,said: “The dangers of speeding are well known and have been shown time and again as being a significant factor in fatal and serious injury collisions.
“Every other day on our road Police Officers see first-hand the devastation that speed-related collisions can cause, the faster you drive the less time you have to react to hazards.
“There is no excuse for speeding and despite the clear risks involved, a minority of drivers are still willing to risk their lives and the lives of others. If you are caught speeding or you are involved in a collision, you could lose your licence, face a substantial fine and receive a criminal record which could result in you losing your job, or even a prison sentence, so the risks are not worth it.”
The Scotland-wide campaign highlights some of the excuses commonly used by drivers to justify their speeding behaviours, while reminding those behind the wheel that, if they’re caught, they could face severe penalties.
Running across multiple platforms including TV, radio and digital, the poignant new advert depicts the harrowing aftermath of a car crash while emphasising that it doesn’t matter if you think you’re only speeding ‘a little bit’ – there’s no excuse for speeding. You can watch the advert here.
For more information visit roadsafety.scot/topics/speed or check out the Road Safety Scotland Facebook and Twitter pages.