Serious injuries on isles roads remain low

THREE people died on Shetland’s roads last year, but the number of non-fatal casualties was among the lowest of the last decade.

A total of 33 people were injured in reported road accidents in the isles in 2015.

While that is an increase of four from the previous year, it is the third lowest total number of casualties in Shetland in the last ten years.

In addition to the three fatalities last year, there were a trio of serious injuries, also one of the lowest totals of the last decade.

In 2005, for instance, there were 71 casualties in Shetland, with 12 serious and three fatal.

Police chief inspector Lindsay Tulloch said Shetland has been “fortunate” to see a decline in the number of people seriously injured or killed on the roads in recent years.

“Road safety continues to be a matter of concern for community councils across Shetland, particularly speed,” he said.

“Along with the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Shetland Islands Council’s road safety officer, we continue to support the ‘driving ambitions’ campaign in high schools and will continue to focus on priority road safety issues including drink driving, speeding and vulnerable road users.

“During the summer months, 52 drivers have been charged in Shetland with speeding offences. This is an indication that we need to work with communities to do more to promote road safety and the real dangers of speeding on our roads”

Across Scotland, while the amount of road traffic has increased, the number of casualties has dropped.

Since 1995, there has been a 49 per cent fall in road accidents, despite traffic rising by 24 per cent.