The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fury at idiotic driving at scene of death
Footage captured at location of Harlow Edwards tragedy
Road safety campaigners have condemned “scary” dashcam footage showing reckless driving at an accident blackspot where a two-year-old girl was knocked down and killed.
The video shows a silver Vauxhall motoring past a line of vehicles waiting at traffic lights on the edge of Coupar Angus.
The incident echoes the tragic 2016 crash which claimed the life of little Harlow Edwards.
Motorist Luke Pirie was jailed last month for causing the collision, which also left Harlow’s older sister Dionne and a six-year-old boy severely injured.
The High Court in Glasgow heard Pirie had tried to overtake a line of stationary traffic on Forfar Road when he hit a Citreon as it turned right.
The 24-year-old then lost control of his car which struck a wall as Harlow and the two others were walking past.
The latest incident was captured on a driver’s dashcam recorder just after 10am on Sunday. The short clip has been forwarded to Police Scotland.
In the video, the passing car is so filthy it is impossible to make out the registration plate.
Temporary traffic lights were installed at the stretch as Perth and Kinross Council begin work on a series of improvements, which were put together with the help of Harlow’s parents Sara and Steve.
Local road safety campaigner Michael Gallagher, who fought alongside the Edwards family for a roads upgrade, said: “This dashcam video is scary stuff.
“It was just this sort of reckless and impatient driving that caused Harlow’s death last year.”
Mr Gallagher has called for Perth and Kinross Council officers to follow in the footsteps of counterparts in Fife who have, over the last decade, introduced 20mph zones to the majority of residential areas.
This has led to a downturn in serious road accidents and injuries.
Mr Gallagher questioned the work being done at Coupar Angus.
“Initially the council drew up plans to widen the pavement, but then changed its mind. Instead, they are building a new pavement on the other side of Forfar Road,” he said.
“This means that people walking into town will have to cross Forfar Road twice, simply to avoid 20 yards of narrow pavement. This is ludicrous.”
He has called on council bosses to use compulsory purchase powers to buy up a strip of land at the roadside to widen the narrow pavement section.
Local councillor Fiona Sarwar also raised concerns about the video.
“It is shocking and very disappointing to see dangerous driving still occurring on Forfar Road,” she said.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said road safety continued to be a priority for the Tayside division and urged any witnesses to get in touch.
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “The programme of road safety improvement works on Forfar Road was agreed following detailed consultation with the local community, community council and elected members.”