Concern over the rise in numbers killed on our roads
Fatalities more than in double a single year
The number of deaths on South Lanarkshire’s roads has more than doubled already this year compared to 2015.
And they include two deaths in Rutherglen and Cambuslang - the first in the area since December 2014.
On May 25, 60-year-old Francis Mooney was tragically killed when the motor he was driving was crushed by a runaway digger on Fernhill Road.
And on July 9, Campbell McLuckie was struck by a car on Cambuslang Main Street while riding his mobility scooter.
The 82-year-old, who was well-known around Cambuslang with his distinctive ‘PAPA’ registration plate, died 11 days later in Hairmyres Hospital.
According to provisional figures from Transport Scotland, across South Lanarkshire there have been nine fatalities so far in 2016, compared with four for the whole of 2015.
The most recent deaths in the area came on August 10 when two pals from Stonehouse were killed in a collision with a lorry on the A723 at Muirhall Farm.
The number also includes a 19-year-old man who perished in a collision on the B7078 Carlisle Road/Draffen Road, near Larkhall, on April 1, and a 59-year-old male pedestrian who died after being struck on Glasgow Road, Blantyre, on May 14.
A 22-year-old man died after a collision on the A702 at the A721 junction, Dolphinton, on May 21 and an 81-yearold man died after the car he was driving crashed on the M74 at junction 9 Blackwood on July 2.
A 52-year-old man passed after his forklift truck overturned on Glenburn Road, East Kilbride, on July 8.
South Lanarkshire Council said it would be inappropriate to comment on road casualty figures after last week’s tragedy, and passed on its condolences.
Head of roads and transportation, Gordon Mackay added: “We treat all such incidents very seriously and the reduction in road accident casualties is a priority in our Local Transport Strategy.”
Police Scotland insisted it would continue to address areas of concern.
Inspector Graham Conner, Divisional Roads Policing Unit, Lanarkshire, said: “Although the government figures for fatal road crashes in the Lanarkshire area show a fall on average between 2004/2008 and 2011/2015, we can never be complacent about road crashes.
“Indeed, unfortunately, since April this year, there have already been nine fatalities in the South Lanarkshire area alone and each one will have a devastating effect on families and the local community.
“Road policing is a priority for Police Scotland and we continue to work closely with our partners to address local concerns and remain committed to influencing road user behaviour in an effort to reduce road casualties making Scotland’s roads safer for everyone.”
National targets are in place for reducing fatal casualties by 40 per cent by the year 2020. The 2015 figure for road fatalities was the lowest ever recorded for South Lanarkshire and overall casualty numbers last year were 38 per cent lower than the baseline average for 2004-2008.