Scotland's most dangerous roads revealed
Discussion
Interesting article here suggesting the A9 and the M8 are Scotland’s “most dangerous roads”.
The ‘safety camera’ organisation claim they have a robust process to choose roads to stick mobile cameras on, yet I’ve never seen any on the M8. The A9 obviously has the average speed cameras for a section, but the M8?
The A82, A8, A90 and A71 were next on the list of roads with the most accidents and I’ve seen cameras on the A82 and A90 but not the others.
Yet cameras are regularly sitting on lots of other roads which don’t appear anywhere in this list. And we’re told they’re for road safety and not for raising revenue.
Article: https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-new...
The ‘safety camera’ organisation claim they have a robust process to choose roads to stick mobile cameras on, yet I’ve never seen any on the M8. The A9 obviously has the average speed cameras for a section, but the M8?
The A82, A8, A90 and A71 were next on the list of roads with the most accidents and I’ve seen cameras on the A82 and A90 but not the others.
Yet cameras are regularly sitting on lots of other roads which don’t appear anywhere in this list. And we’re told they’re for road safety and not for raising revenue.
Article: https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-new...
My experience of these roads is that speed isn't the issue; I suspect the main cause of accidents is due to failing to leave an adequate stopping distance (which should also include the time required to look up from their mobile device...). Tailgating appears to be the accepted norm nowadays, and whenever I hear of multi car accidents I am pretty sure it will be the cause.
The article does not appear to reference any Safety Camera Organisation?
That aside, it's fair to have a dig that obsession with speed and cameras is a fix all.
M8E? Well, having a major dual carriageway just ending in a roundabout isn't really fit for purpose. Having seen what they've spent on Eurocentral/Bargeddie/Baillieston/Raith Interchange then smoothing out Hermiston Gate should be achievable
That aside, it's fair to have a dig that obsession with speed and cameras is a fix all.
M8E? Well, having a major dual carriageway just ending in a roundabout isn't really fit for purpose. Having seen what they've spent on Eurocentral/Bargeddie/Baillieston/Raith Interchange then smoothing out Hermiston Gate should be achievable
The M8 just appears to be a very busy corridor carrying all manner of stressed, impatient, half awake commuters to and from the countries two biggest cities and when you add in wagons, tourist, dawdlers and crap weather to the equation... it's no wonder it's so bad. As for roundabouts at the end of motorways, more so Hermiston Gait... that just puts the fear of God up me. On which note, the A1 roundabouts down towards Dunbar now have massive flashing signs in the centre, dead ahead on approach so clearly somebody is fed up of traffic taking the direct route through them.
andym1603 said:
The cameras were introduced in 2014 and the only thing they have done is bunch up the traffic as most are too scared to overtake.
Have KSIs not reduced since they were installed? Nutters "making progress" dangerously have certainly reduced in my experience, hateful as the cameras are.I'm not convinced roadworks and heavier traffic hasn't made comparing stats before and after the cameras difficult though.
andym1603 said:
The cameras were introduced in 2014 and the only thing they have done is bunch up the traffic as most are too scared to overtake.
2014! Wow. I'm getting old, memory must be going. But yes you are right, We just tonight came back from the Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry thus couldn't avoid the A9 as much as I detest it for the reasons you mention. At least the dualing when complete should improve things.Very lazy journalism. A quick look at the article suggests they have not taken volume of traffic into account . So it is no surprise the M8 connecting Edinburgh and Glasgow then continuing to Langbank past the Erskine Bridge carrying heavy commuter traffic throughout it's length has more accidents than shorter roads or roads carrying a small fraction of the traffic? Who'd have thunk it?
"Although motorways carry around 21% of traffic, they only account for 6% of fatalities"
Rural roads carry twice the traffic (vehicle miles) than motorways but have more than 10 times the fatality rate. So wherever the most dangerous road is it will be a rural road not a motorway.
Page 23
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...
"Although motorways carry around 21% of traffic, they only account for 6% of fatalities"
Rural roads carry twice the traffic (vehicle miles) than motorways but have more than 10 times the fatality rate. So wherever the most dangerous road is it will be a rural road not a motorway.
Page 23
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...
s2kjock said:
andym1603 said:
The cameras were introduced in 2014 and the only thing they have done is bunch up the traffic as most are too scared to overtake.
Have KSIs not reduced since they were installed? Nutters "making progress" dangerously have certainly reduced in my experience, hateful as the cameras are.I'm not convinced roadworks and heavier traffic hasn't made comparing stats before and after the cameras difficult though.
Roads aren't dangerous. It is idiots driving poorly/too fast for conditions that results in collisions.
The Edinburgh Bypass seems to have dropped out the top list, even with Sherrifhall roundabout being like dogems. I suppose you actually have to be moving to have a serious accident and the A720 is so congested at least 12 hours a day for that to be impossible.
The Edinburgh Bypass seems to have dropped out the top list, even with Sherrifhall roundabout being like dogems. I suppose you actually have to be moving to have a serious accident and the A720 is so congested at least 12 hours a day for that to be impossible.
Edinburger said:
OH-I've been driving the A82 ,from Fort William to Glasgow and Fort William to Inverness for over 50 years. My trips south were in RWD cars on crosply tyres and average speed ( before the 70 limit) was above that now thought to be "safe"
Similarly , I worked from Fort William to patrol north to service several telecoms sites and I never had problems n a Moggy Minor van.
in rcent yars ,I've seen more safety problems with tourists, who want to drive nose to tailat 40 MPH and take objection to someone wanting to pass thm.
I'd ay the problem on the A82, is not the road, but lackof southern driving standards.
andym1603 said:
Chuck328 said:
Cynical hat on.
When was the A9 'average speed camera'd' 2 years ago???
So average speed cameras do f
k all to reduce accidents? 
The cameras were introduced in 2014 and the only thing they have done is bunch up the traffic as most are too scared to overtake.When was the A9 'average speed camera'd' 2 years ago???
So average speed cameras do f
k all to reduce accidents? It then ended up the A90 that was the most dangerous road before it got average speed cameras too.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thescottishsun.co...
As much as I'd love to be left to drive at speeds I was happy the simple fact is far too many people aren't safe enough. Average speed cameras work.
I don't see all this bunching up and too scared to overtake.
I use the A90 a lot and the standard of driving noticeably improved once the cameras went up.
Edited by Driver101 on Tuesday 5th November 00:56
Patrick Bateman said:
The A90's biggest problem is the crossings and the one reason I don't disagree with the cameras there.
The amount of locals that think it's the same as a motorway is quite incredible. They don't grasp how dangerous it is with all the lorries and farm machinery trying to join a 70mph from a standing start.
I'm surprised there is only one 50mph zone.
[quote=Who me ?]
My trips south were in RWD cars on crosply tyres and average speed ( before the 70 limit) was above that now thought to be "safe"
Similarly , I worked from Fort William to patrol north to service several telecoms sites and I never had problems n a Moggy Minor van.
in rcent yars ,I've seen more safety problems with tourists, who want to drive nose to tailat 40 MPH and take objection to someone wanting to pass thm.
I'd ay the problem on the A82, is not the road, but lackof southern driving standards.
The stretch before you reach Fort William from Onich that has been double white lined is a massive PITA. It's been reduced to 50 over the years and yet still people can't even maintain this speed along a relatively simple road which causes frustration overtakes (I.e. Me when on the bike).Edinburger said:
OH-I've been driving the A82 ,from Fort William to Glasgow and Fort William to Inverness for over 50 years. My trips south were in RWD cars on crosply tyres and average speed ( before the 70 limit) was above that now thought to be "safe"
Similarly , I worked from Fort William to patrol north to service several telecoms sites and I never had problems n a Moggy Minor van.
in rcent yars ,I've seen more safety problems with tourists, who want to drive nose to tailat 40 MPH and take objection to someone wanting to pass thm.
I'd ay the problem on the A82, is not the road, but lackof southern driving standards.
You tend to see a lot of foreign plates and camper vans in Scotland since the "birth" of the nc500 which could explain people lack of road knowledge?
Edited by STe_rsv4 on Friday 15th November 06:24
Scotland's busiest roads have the most accidents.
Money well spent on that report
I spend a lot of time driving from Ayr to Aberdeen on nearly all average speed camera'd roads. From been up high in a Shogun, I'd say 25% of drivers are on their phones.
But it's okay as they are doing the speed limit.....
Money well spent on that report
I spend a lot of time driving from Ayr to Aberdeen on nearly all average speed camera'd roads. From been up high in a Shogun, I'd say 25% of drivers are on their phones.
But it's okay as they are doing the speed limit.....
STe_rsv4 said:
The stretch before you reach Fort William from Onich that has been double white lined is a massive PITA. It's been reduced to 50 over the years and yet still people can't even maintain this speed along a relatively simple road which causes frustration overtakes (I.e. Me when on the bike).
You tend to see a lot of foreign plates and camper vans in Scotland since the "birth" of the nc500 which could explain people lack of road knowledge?
The A82 is getting worse. Even at this time of the year you can be following traffic doing no faster than 30mph. This is the stretch from Fort Augustus north. Better off taking the B862.You tend to see a lot of foreign plates and camper vans in Scotland since the "birth" of the nc500 which could explain people lack of road knowledge?
Edited by STe_rsv4 on Friday 15th November 06:24
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