Research shows 149% more deaths on Scotland's rural roads compared with urban highways
It has been labelled as a "national tragedy"
Last updated 9th Nov 2022
New "alarming, but not surprising" figures show the tragic number of fatalities on Scottish countryside roads compared with urban areas.
Insurance company NFU Mutual say there were 149% more fatalities on the country's rural roads in 2021.
This is an increase of 13% compared with 2020, across Great Britain rural road fatalities increased by 7%.
A former Far North Police Area Commander and now road safety campaigner is calling for more police patrols and driver education to help tackle the issue.
Road stats a "national tragedy"
Across Great Britain, there were more than 10,471 fatalities or serious injuries on rural roads last year.
This is an increase of more than 12% compared with 2020.
NFU Mutual also say within this figure, the number of people who lost their lives on rural roads in 2021 increased by 7% to 981, more than two-thirds higher than the number of people killed on urban roads during the same period.
The insurance company's Rural Roads Specialist Jade Devlin has called the figures "a national tragedy".
She said: "These latest figures confirm our fears that an increase in rural road traffic has resulted in an increase in the number of fatalities and casualties on countryside roads – with vulnerable road users generally bearing the brunt of it.
"NFU Mutual analysis also shows that in the past four years, over 4,000 people have been killed on rural roads, compared to just under 2,500 on urban roads.
"Rural roads are a lifeline to many isolated people and a shared space for the entire population, so this is a national tragedy which is rightly a key concern of our customers and the public at large."
Calls for increased police patrols and driver education
Iain Gregory from campaign group Caithness Roads Recovery gave us his thoughts on the stats.
He said: "Alarming, but not surprising.
“During more than three decades in the Police service in the Far North of Scotland, sadly I had to investigate a very large number of fatal and life changing road accidents.
“A substantial percentage of those accidents took place in rural areas.
“We need to look at road maintenance and hazard identification.
“For example, on a single track road if you’ve got overhanging vegetation, simply cutting that back can get rid of a blind spot and it can make it much safer.
“We do need to have more hi visibility police patrols, I don’t think we have the level we used to have.
“We need to look at making sure people realise every action on the highway has a consequence. Improve driver education, vehicle safety is a lot better than it used to be.
“I think there is a whole wider picture that needs to be looked at.
“We do tend to perhaps get over confident, we’re used to low traffic volumes and need to be aware at all times of the risks.
“After having to deal with these matters for well over three decades, every time I read of another road traffic accident I cannot help, but think of the people involved, the families, everyone who is involved with that accident.
"It is literally life-changing in several ways."
"We all have a responsibility to be safe on the roads" - Police Scotland
Chief Superintendent Louise Blakelock, head of road policing, said: "We work tirelessly to improve road safety for all users across Scotland and recognise that any death is a tragedy.
"Police Scotland is committed to supporting the Scottish Government's Road Safety Framework to reduce road deaths and injuries through education and enforcement action, alongside our road safety partners.
"We all have a responsibility to be safe on the roads, and I urge all drivers and road users to help us make Scotland's roads safe for everyone."