Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has welcomed a police crackdown initiative on the A9 but has warned that these measures are only temporary solutions.
On the back of this summer’s successful Joint-Crackdown Initiative, Tayside Police is starting a high-profile policing operation in association with their ‘After Dark’ campaign.
The focus of the operation will be to increase road safety awareness, curb criminal activity and educate motorists on the dangers of the A9 at this time of year.
Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Any attempt to reduce accidents and fatalities should be applauded. August’s joint-crackdown initiative highlighted an alarming number of motorists speeding and using their mobile phones whilst driving.
“At this time of year, ice, freezing fog, volume of traffic and poor visibility make the A9 far more dangerous. Families travelling to Scotland for Christmas, who are not regular A9 users, must be made aware of the dangers posed by Scotland’s deadliest road.
“Innovative solutions like this police campaign are most welcome, especially at this time of year. Nonetheless these measures can only be short term solutions. We should not lose sight of the fact that the road configuration, with its continual switches between single and dual carriageway, is a major cause of accidents.
“The long term solution lies with the dualing of this road.
“It is a fact that this road has been claiming too many lives, causing too many accidents and holding back our economy.”