Alison's vision: 'no child to be killed on Scotland's roads'

11.38.54am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jun 2008

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP has urged the Scottish Government to adopt the Liberal Democrats' "vision zero" campaign - a long term aspiration for no child to be killed on Scotland's roads.

The SNP Government's action so far has not indicated a real commitment to improving road safety, as the SNP's Budget includes measures that jeopardise the future of School Travel Coordinators.

Thousands of schoolchildren are taking part in a Brake campaign to put the spotlight on the number of casualties among child pedestrians in Scotland. Brake is a charity providing road safety advice for children, motorcyclists and other drivers.

Commenting, Mrs McInnes said:

"I am delighted that schoolchildren across Scotland are raising awareness of the shocking number of child casualties each year. I am fully supportive of Brake's campaign. Indeed, the Liberal Democrats' long term aspiration is for no child to be killed on Scotland's roads.

"We want the Scottish Government to adopt our "vision zero" policy, which was introduced by the Swedish Government in 1997.

"The SNP's Budget includes measures that jeopardise the future of School Travel Coordinators (STC), which is hardly indicative of a real commitment to improving road safety for children. STCs, introduced by the previous Executive, have proven effective in promoting active commuting to school, improving pupils' road safety and reducing child casualties. The SNP has removed the ring-fencing for STCs leaving them extremely vulnerable as local authorities are facing a very tight financial settlement.

"Even if councils maintain their STCs, they have a reduced capacity to make a difference as the Government has savagely cut Sustrans' budget. This funded infrastructure improvements identified by STCs, which will undoubtedly have implications for road safety."