Different view on traffic data
Dear Editor,
I refer to the article on page 8 of the January 4 edition regarding crime, road traffic accident (RTA) and road traffic casualty (RTC) data.
In the article, it is claimed that “a renewed focus on road safety offences has led to [RTCS] almost halving from 150 to 79 - with fatal [RTAS] falling from seven to one and [seriously injured RTCS] going down from 59 to 36”.
While this may be true, it appears to be have been derived from a comparison of data for the six-months period April
2022 to September 2022, with a preceding period, presumably October 2021 to March 2022. These are rather short periods in the context of RTAS.
Readers are assured
[by Chief Superintendent Alan Gibson, Divisional Commander for Forth
Valley] that Forth
Valley (presumably Clackmannanshire,
Falkirk and Stirling unitary council areas combined) is “bucking” a national fatal RTC trend. But is it?
And where is the evidence linking the “renewed focus” to a change in road traffic accident related data?
There may be an association, but readers should be told whether it is causal.
A further concern is the small size of the numbers involved, inevitable given the short periods chosen.
When attempting to identify trends it is better (and more usual) to compare rolling five-year averages (5ya) as this “smooths” wild variations such as that from seven to one (in six months!) quoted in the article.
Interested readers would be better advised to examine the Department for Transport’s finalised data. From those, it can seen that the 5ya number of RTCS
(of all severities) fell from
444 to 367 at the ends of the five year periods ending
2020 and 2021 respectively. Hardly halved.
The equivalent numbers for fatal RTAS were 8.6 and 10.0 and for fatal RTCS were 9.2 and 10.6.
So Forth Valley may not be “bucking” a national trend.
For seriously injured RTCS the numbers were 138 and 120.
The recent epidemic will, almost certainly, have influenced the numbers, given the reduced traffic volumes experienced during its course.
Andrew Fraser Stirling
Dear Editor,
With the cost of living soaring, economic uncertainty after the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine affecting fuel costs, it is a tough time for many.
Added to this, with socalled Blue Monday and many facing challenging circumstances, it is important to ensure that we offer support to those who are struggling with financial difficulties and mental and physical ill-health.
The RAF and its people are resilient and fantastic at facing fear, mitigating risk and getting the job done.
But sometimes life throws a spanner in the works.
And you can’t simply rely on your training, on your professional skills, or your can-do attitude; you need additional support.
And that’s where the RAF Benevolent Fund comes in.
We’re here to support RAF personnel – past and present - in need during those times when there’s no manual to follow. The RAF Benevolent Fund is here for the RAF Family, providing practical, financial and emotional support to RAF personnel, veterans and their partners and dependents.
If you’re part of the RAF Family or you know someone who is struggling this winter, please get in touch, we’re here to help, and want to help.
Air Commodore Paul Hughesdon
Last week, we reported that fewer than 11 per cent of claims to Stirling Council for compensation for damage caused to vehicles by potholes have been successful in the last three years.
The council has received 157 claims for expenses incurred as a result of damaged vehicles on the region’s crumbling roads. Just 17 claims since then have been successful, with a total of £4,369.75 paid out from the public purse.
Steve Johnston wrote:“yet they spend millions on unused cycle paths.
“Worst one has to be the one near the train station, narrowed the road so that can’t even get past a bus at the bus stops, plus removing lane for turning right, creates nightmare traffic in the centre.”
Mary Scott said:“remember there was a problem along Balquhidder Glen with potholes. Someone got a spray can of yellow paint and sprayed round the holes. The roads department were quick off the mark to complain about vandalism! They got fixed….”
And Tracy Fell stated:“yeah and that’s only the people that have claimed. I’m sure many more have not.”
Faye Marshall posted:“would it not be cheaper fixing the potholes before they get to that stage.”
We also reported how statistics have revealed that Stirling is in the top 10 UK polluters by population of CO2. Newly-released data shows that the UK produced more than 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2021, which was a 6.3 per cent increase on the previous year.
Paul Kelly commented:“all the stationary traffic waiting at the endless roadworks!!”
While Sarah Pickles said:“not surprisingly given the public transport is so bad and everyone has to drive.”
Meanwhile, we told how it was the happiest of new years for one Stirling couple as they became the first to tie the knot in the region in 2023.
Thomas Irvine, 49 and new wife Tracy, nee Hendry, 47, wed at Old Viewforth in the city on January 6 at 2.30pm.
Readers offered their best wishes, with Janeanne Myles commenting: “Congratulations to you both.”
And Pamela Dow wrote:“beautiful bride! Fab wedding.”