Call for A9 signs that could save people’s lives

Innovative warnings help stop motorists going wrong way

A spate of serious accidents has prompted calls for lifesaving signs to be installed on Perthshire’s trunk roads.

Recent crashes caused by motorists driving the wrong way on major routes could be avoided using the new technology, backers say.

Innovative electronic warning signs, triggered when drivers take a wrong turning on to a slip road, are being trialled in Lothian.

Road safety experts say they should be introduced in Perth and Kinross, where the M90 and A9 have proved accident blackspots.

Neil Greig, of safety group IAM Roadsmart, said: “This is the kind of action we have been calling for. This system does look like an excellent solution for those drivers who may have been confused or momentarily distracted.”

The move has been backed by local politicians SNP MP Pete Wishart and Tory MSP Murdo Fraser.

New technology aimed at cutting wrongway road crashes could be a “lifesaver” in Perthshire.

The innovative electronic warning signs are triggered when drivers take a wrong turning on to a slip road.

They are being tested by road maintenance firm Amey at locations in West Lothian and East Lothian and, if successful, could be rolled out to trunk roads across the country.

Cross-party politicians in Tayside say the devices would be a welcome addition to local roads and could curb a recent spate of crashes.

An elderly driver was injured after he drove the wrong way down the M90, near Kintillo, in March. Footage emerged of his car colliding, head-on with three other vehicles.

In May, a camper van was spotted driving “at full speed” down the wrong side of the A9, near Ballinluig. The incident triggered calls for increased safety measures. On another occasion this year, an elderly motorist had to forfeit his licence after driving on the wrong side of the M90 between Friarton Bridge and Broxden.

Police Scotland and Road Safety Scotland launched a “Drive on the Left” campaign in Highland Perthshire earlier this summer.

Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “I would be delighted to see this new technology brought to Perthshire.

“It could make a real difference to driver safety.

“There has been a few instances here where drivers have been known to turn into the wrong lane. I know examples where tourists have gone the wrong way down the road because they’ve been distracted by the scenery.”

Murdo Fraser, Tory MSP for MidScotland and Fife, said the system could be a “potential lifesaver”. He added: “This new technology has already been supported by motoring group IAM RoadSmart and I feel that anything that could be used to potentially save lives has to be welcomed.”

A spokeswoman for Amey said it was testing the system.

Neil Greig, of IAM Roadsmart welcomed the scheme. He said: “This is the kind of action we have been calling for.

“Wrong-way crashes tend to involve older drivers, or young drivers under the influence of drink or drugs.

“Eradicating deliberate illegal behaviour may be more difficult but this system does look like an excellent solution for those drivers who may have been confused or momentarily distracted.”

I know examples where tourists have gone the wrong way down the road because they’ve been distracted by the scenery. MP PETE WISHART

Earlier this year a camper van was spotted driving down the wrong side of the A9 near Ballinluig.