URGENT ACTION NEEDED FROM MINISTERS TO MAKE RURAL ROADS SAFER: MCINNES

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Jun 2010

Commenting on the provisional road casualty statistics released by the Scottish Government today which show two thirds of all deaths on the roads took place on rural roads, Liberal Democrat transport Spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP said:

"The overall reduction in deaths is of course welcome, but the Minister should not be too self congratulatory - the death toll is still too high, and I am deeply concerned about the number of fatalities on rural roads.

"The Government's Road Safety Framework, published over a year ago, highlighted this problem and pledged to 'Consider what further actions to take from current research on rural roads'.

"How much more time for consideration does the Transport Minister need? Surely it is time for urgent action to stem the death toll among young drivers in rural areas?

"Liberal Democrats would like to see a sustained education campaign, more traffic police on rural roads and a national pass plus scheme for young drivers."