KIDS DICING WITH DEATH ON THE A90 Four days to cup final
Scottish Cup final week is here and excitement will be building for St Johnstone fans.
Although supporters will not be at Hampden, they are bound to be cheering on from their homes and pubs across the city.
The club has already secured the League Cup this term and booked European football on Saturday.
The PA will be running a 16-page souvenir special on Friday ahead of the big game, so make sure you reserve a copy with your newsagent.
SPORT:
Fears have been raised that primary-aged children are dicing with death by running over the busy A90 dual carriageway between Perth and Dundee.
One motorist took to social media to say she had been lucky to avoid a collision after an incident last week near Glencarse.
Police are understood to have spoken to local children about the issue.
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “These reported incidents are extremely alarming and could easily have had devastating consequences.”
In what looked like a dare, one driver witnessed a girl run out onto the road in front of her car near the St Madoes/ Glencarse junction as she returned from work in Dundee on Thursday night.
Her automatic impulse was to hit the brakes, but she was almost struck by the vehicle travelling behind her.
The following day, at 6.30pm on the same stretch, another group of children, this time boys, also ran out ahead of road-users.
Writing on Facebook, the driver said: “Yesterday [Wednesday, May 12] between 6.30pm and 6.45pm, I was driving home from Dundee on the A90.
As I approached the Glencarse Hotel, I could see three young girls at my side of the road mucking about. Next thing one ranstraightacrosstheroadlikeitwasadare.
“What unfolded was scary. The road was busy, a 40ft lorry slammed on its brakes as did the cars behind.
“I was in the process of overtaking the lorry when this child appeared in front of my car causing me to slam on my brakes and my car was nearly hit from behind.
“I really hope [the girl] still hears my car horn ringing in her ears.”
The next day, last Thursday, tragedy nearly happened again.
“Tonight around 6.30pm it was the turn of three boys and to make matters worse, this time the boy ran across the traffic, tagged the barrier and then ran back across.
“I came back from work pretty shaken at what happened yesterday.
“Please advise your kids the A90 is not a playground and lives could be lost by this reckless behaviour.”
The message was shared on the St Madoes and Glencarse Community News Facebook page where another local confirmed they had encountered the pranking youngsters: “I seen them yesterday about same time. They were running from St Madoes side of the dual into central then over into Glencarse.”
Another added: “I heard cars and lorries tooting. I wondered what was going on. Unbelievable.”
Police visited the primary school on Friday morning to ensure children understood the danger of the road and ceased their game.
The Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson added:“Pupils at nearby St Madoes Primary School have been spoken to by Police Scotland road traffic officers and staff about the dangers of playing on busy roads.
“All Perth and Kinross Council pupils are taught about road safety and we would also ask parents to make sure their children are not risking their lives, or the lives of others, by playing on or near busy roads.”