Murdo Fraser hits out at Perthshire’s road accident rate

Dec 1 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

FIGURES released yesterday have revealed there were 130 serious or fatal accidents on Perthshire’s roads last year.

Statistics contained in the latest Reported Road Casualties Scotland report have confirmed 14 deaths due to traffic accidents in the Big County, including Kinross-shire, in 2008.

Serious casualties totalled 116, with 358 people the victims of ‘slight’ injuries.

After scrutinising the figures, Mid-Scotland MSP Murdo Fraser called for action to improve the safety record.

Mr Fraser is demanding investment in roads such as the A9 as he still believes there are too many deaths on the roads.

“It is sad to learn that 14 people have lost their lives on Perth and Kinross roads last year,” the Tory MSP declared yesterday.

“Although this is a decrease compared to previous years, such as 31 fatalities in 2001, it still means that a number of communities and families were shattered through the grief of a loved one.”

Mr Fraser described the A9 as “one of Scotland’s deadliest roads” and called for it to be made a continuous dual carriageway from Perth to Inverness.