Safety message after rise in tragic crashes
Road users are being urged to make sure they take care this winter amid a surge in serious crashes on Stirling’s roads in recent months.
The warning comes from Police Scotland who have launched their Winter Safety campaign - aimed at highlighting best practice for all road users during the looming darker nights and treacherous winter weather.
It’s a message that is increasingly relevant amid a recent rise in accidents across the area, mainly on rural routes.
The most recent incident saw two motorbikes collide on a stretch of the A81 near Balfron Station, with an air ambulance called to the scene.
That followed two fatal crashes on local roads last month - the first of which claimed the life of Denny man Tam Neil after his Suzuki motorcycle collided with another vehicle on a stretch of road near Plean.
The second saw a 54-year-old woman from Lochgilphead pronounced dead at the scene on the A82 near Crianlarich after a crash with a lorry.
National road safety charity Brake urged drivers to take care on rural roads and called for greater actions from authorities to help with rural road safety.
A spokesperson for the charity told the Observer: “Rural roads are a significant road safety risk, due to their nature, often being narrow with blind bends, brows and no pavements or cycle paths, and unsuited to high speeds.
“With the majority of deaths on Scotland’s roads occurring on rural roads, it’s important that drivers take caution and remain focused at all times on them.
“We advise all drivers to stay well under speed limits, particularly around bends, brows and other hazards, and take extra care whenever visibility or conditions are poor.
“As a charity that supports road crash victims and their families, we see everyday the devastating consequences that crashes on these roads can have.
“We need to see action taken at the highest levels to improve rural