Against a background of falling road traffic accidents across Scotland, with the steady trend interrupted by a massive dip in the pandemic, the Herald, typically arithmetically-challenged, has today:
Some facts:
These are data for the whole of the giant Highland Council and do not indicate any particular A9 dualling problem.
There were 24 deaths in 2022 (2023 data not yet complete or confirmed yet), up from the 5-year average of 17 but serious accidents at 87 were down from the 5-year average of 130 and all accidents at 232 were only just over half of the 443 average.
The increase from 24 to 28 ‘not on the left‘ incidents in one year may not be a trend. We don’t know because the Herald is concealing the longer trend. I wonder why? Is it down?
Similarly, are the 4 fatal accidents of this type an increase or a decrease over several years? Do tell.
Sources:
https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/key-reported-road-casualties-scotland-2022/
Talking-up Scotland / Scottish media fact checking is like shooting fish in a barrel 
The A9 is a road that tires you 🙄 but…it’s the crossovers that are the accident zones, and for the most part, these are situated on the dualled carriageways. Then there are the turnoffs on the dualled sections which necessitates vehicles to brake, almost stop, and then turn left, or turn right depending on the direction in which they are travelling. Take for example, close to where I live by Auchterarder, there is the Tibbermore turn off, then the access road to Scottish Water’s sewage works where there just happens to be a couple of houses too. The Dunning/Findo Gask turnoff and crossover – now this one is notorious, but do vehicles slow down…nope…foot down and bedlam. Then at the top of the Cairnie brae, the farm turning on the left, and the Forteviot crossover on the right.
Not to forget the eejits that are exiting from the country roads to turn right and head south. Well, they head to the middle section, wait for a brief space and join the carriageway on the outside lane while the traffic on the inside undertakes and the vehicles behind are slamming on the brakes. Then the ricochet effect with all the other vehicles braking as if there’s no tomorrow.
Forgot, many drivers have no idea about how to figure out the average speed, and many more have no clue that the regular sections of the A9 are 60mph (unless you’re a van or lorry), and the dualled sections are 70mph.
But then modern cars have bleepers that insist the regular road is 50mph. I experienced this with a courtesy car not so long ago and thought, ‘hang on, that’s no right’. Too much distraction with modern cars is not helping either.
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Compare and contrast –
26th November 2023
https://www.fergusonmarine.com/news/ferguson-marine-shipyard-begins-type-26-frigate-work/
“Ferguson’s has no more ship orders beyond those ferries. The shipyard is pinning its hopes on an order for seven small CalMac vessels, similar to the three it delivered successfully before Scotland’s ferries saga began.
When Glen Rosa finally enters the Clyde next March, it will be the 363rd vessel launched under the Ferguson name. In Port Glasgow and across Scotland there are many who hope it won’t be the last.”
🤔
2nd May 2023
https://www.fergusonmarine.com/news/ferguson-marine-shipyard-begins-type-26-frigate-work/
Manufacturing is now underway at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow), on the first of three units to be built for HMS Belfast, the third City Class Type 26 frigate currently being constructed by BAE Systems, signalling a new dawn for the Port Glasgow shipyard.
This phase of work involves fabricating three steel units. When ready later this year, the modules will be transported to BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard ready for assembly as part of HMS Belfast, the third frigate in a series of eight warships that BAE Systems is building for the Ministry of Defence.
David Tydeman, Chief Executive of Ferguson Marine said: “Today heralds a new era for commercial shipbuilding at Port Glasgow, one we have painstakingly planned and prepared for. It demonstrates the ability of our skilled workforce to secure complex new contracts in a commercial environment. And this is just the beginning. We plan to grow our expertise and capabilities to win additional commercial contracts and adjacent markets.
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Correction to my post above
The first link should have been this one 👍https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-67458055
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A momentary lapse in concentration is all it takes to make a RTA, be that on a B road or dual carriageway, the risk of fatality increasing with speed.
I’m not sure why Craig Williams went with the ” ‘Inexperienced’ tourists putting drivers in Highlands at greater risk ” headline, since the ‘Inexperience driving on the left’ neither identifies the driver’s nationality nor whether they were driving a truck, van, car or camper van despite his heavy hint as to the latter.
Likewise, collisions involving foreign drivers does make them the cause of the RTA, despite the implication of the article that they were.
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