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.