News

27 February 2009
POLICE TO REMIND MOTORISTS OF THE BENEFITS OF SAFE DRIVING

Scottish police forces are to remind motorists of the benefits of safe driving in a 24-hour initiative across the country’s eight police force areas.

Starting at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, 27 February) Scotland’s police officers will be conducting, as part of their daily enforcement of the country’s road safety laws, a ‘Seatbelt / Speeding / Mobile Phone day of action’.

“It is not a crackdown,” said Chief Superintendent Brian Anderson (Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary), Portfolio lead for Casualty Reduction of the Road Policing Business Area for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS).

“It is a reminder to motorists of something that our country’s police officers do every day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year – trying to save lives by letting motorists know that driving without your seatbelt on, speeding or using a mobile phone will result in a fine and endorsements on your driver’s license or a court appearance and possible imprisonment.

The 24-hour ‘day of action’ is part of a media campaign being co-ordinated by ACPOS in conjunction with the eight police forces and its partners, Road Safety Scotland, the road safety arm of the Scottish Government, and the Scottish Safety Camera Programme.

The three-in-one approach being introduced by ACPOS is aimed at getting the message of road safety across to motorists more robustly.

“Despite laws about wearing a seatbelt being on the books for over 25 years, there are still too many people flouting the law,” Mr. Anderson stressed.  “There are too many instances of drivers and passengers not wearing their seatbelt and suffering serious injury or even fatal injuries when their vehicle was involved in a road collision.

“There have recently been cases of motorists using their mobile phone to text messages whilst driving or bending over to pick it up. It is time motorists used common sense as well as obeyed the law.

“I should not have to remind motorists that you can be imprisoned if you are convicted of using a mobile phone in any fashion when a road fatality results from your actions,” he added.

“We want every road user to get to where they are going safely, whether they are a motorist or passenger, cyclist or pedestrian,” Chief Superintendent Anderson concluded.

“Everyone should wear a seatbelt; drivers should adhere to speed limits and traffic conditions; and, motorists should pull over at an appropriate location – if they have to use their mobile.

“Our message is clear! Drive safely and obey the law.  We want you and all other road users to have a safe journey on Scotland’s roadways.”