14% surge in road deaths ...despite speed cameras

ROAD deaths have soared by 14 per cent, casting doubt on the effectiveness of speed cameras.

Transport Scotland said that 191 people were killed on the roads in 2016, 23 more than in 2015.

Ministers said the number of casualties fell by 1 per cent from 10,973 to 10,901.

But the number of children killed more than doubled, rising from four to 12 – while overall there were 1,000 child casualties.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf described the rise in deaths as ‘disappointing’ but insisted Scotland is on track to hit road safety targets.

Last night, Scottish Tory transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘Whenever such a rise takes place, it’s up to the Scottish Government to try to determine why that is.

‘It’s all very well imposing blanket 20mph zones or increasing the number of speed cameras, but ministers have to then assess if that actually has an impact.’

Speed cameras across Scotland raised more than £5million in fines last year, £200,000 higher than 2015, sparking concern they are aimed more at milking motorists for cash than improving safety.

Those seriously injured in crashes rose by 6 per cent to 1,697 in 2016, while minor injuries fell 2 per cent to 9,013.

The number of motorcyclists killed also increased to 30 from 27 in 2015. Eight cyclists died on the roads in 2016, three more than 2015, while pedestrian deaths fell by 12 to 32.

There were 1,000 child casualties in accidents in 2016, a 4 per cent increase from 2015, including 167 children who were seriously injured, up from 139.

Last night, Neil Greig, of IAM RoadSmart, formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: ‘At a local level, speed cameras appear to be working, but they don’t seem to be contributing to a change in driver behaviour. People know where they are, slow down and then speed up.

‘We can’t hound motorists all the time. It has to be about driver education, but there is a hard core of drivers who insist on speeding and drink-driving.’

In 2014 it emerged that measures such as sending police civilian staff to schools to teach children about road safety had been ditched to save cash.

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Neil Bibby said: ‘Nobody wants to see the number of deaths on our roads rising, and the number of accidents involving children is tragic.

‘The Scottish Government and Police Scotland must urgently set out what action they are going to take to reduce fatalities and ensure responsible driving on Scotland’s roads.’

Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, head of road policing at Police Scotland, said: ‘Police Scotland is focused on reducing road casualties through high visibility

‘People know where they are’

patrolling to influence and educate road users, and where necessary, through enforcement.’

Mr Yousaf described the rise in road deaths as ‘disappointing’ but said that draft figures for the first six months of 2017 showed the number of fatalities was falling.

He added: ‘That said, one death on Scotland’s roads is one too many and all partners remain entirely committed to securing our challenging and ambitious casualty reduction targets.’

Commenting on speed cameras, Mr Yousaf said: ‘The average speed camera system on the A9 continues to demonstrate a radical improvement in driver behaviour.’