This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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A77 Safety Group
23/06/2004
Action to reduce the "unacceptably high" risk of accidents on the A77 was announced today by a new group set up specifically to improve road safety.
The A77 Safety Group includes the Executive, Strathclyde and Dumfries and Galloway police forces, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway councils, roads maintenance company Amey Highways and Westsound FM, and will promote and enforce safer driving on the road, and consider the need for further road safety works.
In the last 10 years there have been 28 fatalities on the A77 south of Ayr. The Scottish Executive is investing £20 million in seven road improvement schemes in this area.
The new group will co-ordinate the following work:
• Targetted road safety messages for drivers by Strathclyde Police, South Ayrshire Council and Westsound Radio;
• Tougher enforcement of speed limits by Strathclyde Police on dangerous stretches of road;
• A Route Accident Reduction Plan to be carried out by Amey which will identify the need for long-term road safety works;
• Short-term road safety works to be carried out by Amey such as white-lining roadmarkings and cats eyes.
The launch of the A77 Safety Group today was welcomed by Transport Minister Nicol Stephen and Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson.
Nicol Stephen said:
"The Executive is commited to significant improvements to the A77 designed to tackle the unacceptably high risk of road accidents. The new A77 Safety Group shows the commitment of all those involved to achieving these aims. A partnership approach, based on education and enforcement, as well as investment in new road improvements, will make a big difference. We are determined to improve the safety of this road.
"We have already constructed a new roundabout at Sandyford Toll, a new climbing lane at Turnberry will open next week and work on the M77 extension is progressing well. As a result, the A77 north of Ayr was recently named as one of the most improved roads in Britain for safety.
"We will now extend these improvements south to the A77 between Ayr and Stranraer where we have six major schemes planned for completion in 2006. We will not stop there and the A77 Safety Group will also look at further road safety works, both small and large, as well as promoting safe driving."
Cathy Jamieson said:
"Every one of these deaths was not only a tragedy for a family but also for the wider community. By working together we want to take a joint approach to make real improvements to the safety record of this particular stretch of road.
"The introduction of new overtaking opportunities will create a safer A77 by removing accident blackspots and reducing the frustration drivers feel about being stuck behind slow-moving traffic from the ferry ports.
"But drivers must continue to take care when travelling on this road. Accidents can be caused by bad or careless driving and new overtaking opportunities must not be seen as an excuse to drive irresponsibly. Speeding kills and this is the clear message we will hammer home to drivers on the A77 through education and enforcement."
Between 1994 and 2003 there were 22 fatal accidents on the A77 south of Ayr, resulting in 28 deaths, 179 serious accidents, resulting in 258 serious injuries, and 376 slight accidents, resulting in 703 personal injuries.
The A77 Safety Group brings together representatives from the Scottish Executive, Strathclyde Police, South Ayrshire Council, Amey Highways, Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Westsound FM.
The Scottish Executive is investing over £100 million to improve safety on the A77. The Executive is supporting seven improvement schemes to provide overtaking opportunities on the southern section of the A77 which are expected to be completed in 2006, as well as design work on the Whitletts roundabout in Ayr. This complements £87 million work of committed for the A77 and the new M77 extension north of Ayr.
The improvement schemes on the A77 presently under design are:
• Turnberry Climbing Lane;
• Glenn App;
• Haggstone Climbing Lane;
• Park End to Bennane;
• Drummuckloch to Invermessan;
• Ardwell to Slockenray;
• Downhill to Burnside/ Chapeldonan.
Over the last 3 years, the Scottish Executive has spent in excess of £3 million on various works including resurfacing, drainage, Accident Investigation and Prevention studies and carriageway construction.
Public exhibitions are being held at the County Buildings in Ayr on Wednesday, June 23rd, at the junction of Knockcushan and Dalrymple Street in Girvan on Thursday, June 24th and in Hanover Square Car Park in Stranraer on Friday, June 25th.