Roads in Argyll are ‘most dangerous’
TWO ROADS through Argyll are among the most dangerous in Scotland.
Figures released from the Scottish Government show that the A85 and the A82 are among the five most dangerous roads in the country.
THE FIVE most dangerous trunk roads in Scotland include the A85 and A82.
Figures obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats revealed that the most dangerous trunk roads are the A90, the A9, the A96, A82 and the A85.
The A85, which runs from Oban to Perth, has been the subject of a petition that has received more than 1,700 signatures.
Dunbeg Community Council set up the petition after a series of accidents on the road between Oban and Dunbeg.
Sean MacIntyre, chairman of Dunbeg Community Council, said: ‘In my opinion Argyll and Bute has some of the worst road surfaces in the country, so I don’t find it astonishing we’ve had the amount of accidents we have had on that small section of road.
‘I know it [the A85] runs to Perth, but so many accidents happen near Oban.
‘Something as small as paint on the road could help sort that and stop people overtaking.
‘And the speed limit needs to be addressed, especially at Pennyfuir. It’s unsafe.’
The A82, which runs from Glasgow to Inverness and passes through Argyll and Fort William, also made the list. It was revealed as being the fourth most dangerous trunk road in the country.
North- east Scotland MSP Mike Rumbles, who obtained the figures, said: ‘Most families rely on their cars to get around and we need to ensure that we do what we can to make our roads as safe as possible.
‘These figures demonstrate clearly that the Scottish Government still has a huge amount of work to do to boost safety on the trunk roads directly under their control.
‘Since 2013 we have seen year- onyear increases in the number of serious or fatal accidents on trunk roads under the management of the Scottish Government.
‘Our emergency services do fantastic, life-saving work responding to accidents as they happen but they need the government back them up.’
Superintendent Fraser Candlish from Police Scotland said: ‘The A85 and the A82 are priority routes for the Road Policing Division and we deploy a number of resources, including high-profile marked cars, unmarked cars and motorcycles on these roads every day.
‘ We always welcome any initiatives and ideas from local community groups on road safety. Driving too fast for the conditions is the most common cause of crashes on country roads.
‘Country roads aren’t just about obeying the speed limit, they’re also about driving at a speed which is appropriate to the conditions.
‘The question that all drivers on country roads needs to ask themselves is ‘Can I stop in the distance I can see to be clear ahead of me?’. If the answer to this is no, then you need to slow down.’
Meanwhile, an Oban man who lives at Lerags contacted The Oban
Times to complain about the number of potentially serious near misses he has experienced on the A816 Oban to Lochgilphead road.
The man said he had almost been involved in several accidents on the three-mile stretch of road going out of Oban in a matter of a few days, principally because of dangerous driving by other motorists, including lorry drivers.
Which roads or stretches of road in Oban and Argyll are the most dangerous? And what should be done about them? Tell us what you think. Email editor@obantimes.co.uk or write to The Editor, The Oban Times, Crannog Lane, Lochavullin Estate Oban, PA34 4HB.