Delivery of the Framework’s commitments

The mid-term review of the Framework made a number of revisions to existing commitments and added a new commitment on Elderly Pedestrian Casualties. The commitments contributing to the new three Priority Focus Areas were ranked in terms of their likely impact on reducing casualty numbers to 2020, expressed as priority level 1, 2 or 3.

The delivery of the 97 commitments was monitored by the Framework’s Operational Partnership Group (OPG) and reported into its Risk Register. 87 commitments are complete, 8 commitments are ongoing, with only two of these listed as priority 2 and a further 2 as priority 3, and 2 were not delivered by 2020 but none were considered as priority 1, 2 or 3.

Recommendations

As the number of commitments was already large from inception, it was not deemed possible to add more as the Framework progressed and new trends appeared. The next Framework should therefore contain strategic actions rather than detailed commitments. These strategic actions would be expanded further in subsequent Delivery Plans, separate from the Framework itself. These annual or multi-annual Delivery Plans would contain deliverables that would be achieved either within the timeframe of the Delivery Plans or over more than the corresponding delivery plan year(s)
Ensure that future commitments/deliverables are allocated a lead delivery partner, for better reporting and tracking purposes.

The following sub-sections provide further detail in specific tables on how each commitment has been progressed between 2010 and 2020.

Wherever these commitments were amended during the Mid-term review, the wording and priority level (expressed as P1, P2 or P3 following the commitment reference number) of these commitments is consistent with Annex 2 of the Mid-term Review.

Working Together for Safer Roads

Commitment - ref RSF01

Investigate the establishment of a strategic Scottish group which is representative of the major road safety disciplines and key delivery partners.

Status - complete

Activity

Creation of the Strategic Partnership Board and the Operational Partnership Group and the continued organisation of the bi-annual board and group meetings with minutes published on Transport Scotland website.

Commitment - ref RSF02

Produce an annual public update on the delivery of the Framework.

Status - complete

Activity

Road Safety Framework Annual Report – created, receive contributions from road safety partners and published each year on Transport Scotland website, showcasing the work that partnership working has carried out throughout the year.

Commitment - ref RSF03

Ensure Scottish views are included in the DfT Stats 19 review.

Status - complete

Activity

The Standing Committee on Road Accident Statistic was chaired by DfT, with Police Scotland and the Scottish local authority representative being included in its membership. A second review of STATS 19 took place between 2018 and 2021 with the involvement of Transport Scotland with the final recommendation report published in 2021.

Commitment - ref RSF04

Work with local authorities and police forces in order to identify their needs in relation to expanding Road Casualties Scotland to include casualty analysis by home post code.

Status - complete

Activity

Post codes are used in Scotland’s reported road casualties’ analysis.

Commitment - ref RSF52

Introduce a Scottish Road Safety Week after consultation with partners.

Status - complete

Activity

A road safety week is run each year by the charity BRAKE. The Road Safety Scotland Learning Advisory Group is supportive of a road safety focus, such as a 'road safety week', but this would need to be supported with campaign and PR activity. RSS runs its Seminar every year, bar 2020 due to Covid, but reduced the event from 3 days to one.

Commitment - ref RSF53

Help to promote existing information sharing fora and databases and consider whether there is a need for a specific initiative for Scotland.

Status - complete

Activity

Share information, research and evaluations through the Transport Scotland Website and the Road Safety Scotland website as well as circulating to the OPG and SPB for further distribution. A webpage of RSS website is dedicated to the new Framework to 2030 and serves as a knowledge base tool.

Commitment - ref RSF54

Consider, with partners, local pilots of initiatives for evaluation and promulgation of results across Scotland.

Status - complete

Activity

A new Road Safety Framework Evaluation Fund was launched in 2019 to co-fund evaluation of road safety projects. These evaluations are published on a webpage of RSS website that is dedicated to the new Framework to 2030 and serves as a knowledge base tool.

Commitment - ref RSF55

Explore the inclusion/effectiveness of wider statistical evidence other than that of Stats 19.

Status - complete

Activity

The Mid-term Review introduced Priority Focus Areas supported by indicators using other than STATS19 data, such as the Road Safety Information Tracking Study (RITS).

Commitment - ref RSF56

Encourage and support the use of intelligence-led road safety targeting.

Status - complete

Activity

Police Scotland enforce the law of the roads by running intelligence-led operations such as Speed, Drink-drive and Drug-drive campaigns.

Being Responsible on the Roads

Children and Young People

Commitment - ref RSF05

Undertake an audit of our road safety education resources to ensure they address the specific issues which Scotland’s child road casualty record presents and that they keep pace with educational developments and methods.

Status - complete

Activity

The evaluation of ‘Go Safe With Ziggy’ resource was carried out in 2016 by Road Safety Scotland (RSS). The report concluded that the resource is fit-for-purpose as an early years road safety learning tool. There is a strong brand and a recognisable character that children, educators and parents seem to engage with. The recommended adjustments to the ordering and distributing process failed to increase uptake so a new more accessible and flexible system has been implemented. By Dec 2019, this new system has seen a significant uptake of the resource. RSS also commissioned an independent evaluation of four of its main learning resources:

Streetsense2
The Junior Road Safety Officer scheme
Your Call
Crash Magnets

It took forward the recommendations of that evaluation, including streamlining the resources. This is now complete.

Commitment - ref RSF06

Continue to support the use of school travel plans, fully involving the local community, through grant to the Sustrans School Run Team and cycle training resources from Road Safety Scotland (RSS no longer produces cycling resources) and Cycling Scotland.

Status - complete

Activity

Cycling Scotland commissioned an independent evaluation of the existing Bikeability Scotland delivery model. In response to the recommendations of this report Cycling Scotland are working with local authority partners to provide greater flexibility in how funding is used to support the transition to a volunteer-supported delivery model.

Evaluation carried out as part of the 2016 Give Everyone Cycle Space campaign found that 65% of pupils were more confident cycling after Bikeability training, and 45% reported to cycle more frequently. 82% of parents were more in favour of letting their children cycle after completing Bikeability training. In 2020 Children in Scotland was asked by Cycling Scotland to explore children and young people’s views of cycling and road safety. The project, called Changing Gears, offered 300 children and young people the chance to share their thoughts and experiences and shape future decisions about cycling and road safety across Scotland.

Read the evaluation report.

Sustrans support schools in Scotland in a variety of ways:

A range of resources for teachers
I Bike promoting cycling, walking and scooting
The Cycle and Scooter Parking Grant Fund helps make travelling actively to school a more viable option for pupils in Scotland
Places for Everyone funding, for infrastructure developments around schools, to make it easier for pupils to walk, scooter and cycle to school safely
The Hands Up Scotland Survey (HUSS) provides an insight into journeys to school that Sustrans has been delivering for more than a decade

As part of its walking to school programmes Living Streets did some work on travel planning, including a DIY guide for schools developed in 2020. This was supported by Transport Scotland although not from the road safety stream.

Commitment - ref RSF07

Investigate, report and implement ways to help ensure schoolchildren’s safety when getting on and off school buses.

Status - complete

Activity

As part of Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Act guidance, safety measure on behaviour while on the bus was included.

A guide to improving school transport safety was prepared by TRL for Transport Scotland and SCOTS. It is primarily for use by Scottish local authorities. However, it may be of use to anyone who has an interest in or responsibility for provision of school transport, including transport operators.

Commitment - ref RSF08

Call on UK Government to consider any strengthening of legislation in relation to school transport.

Status - complete

Activity

The Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Act came into force August 2018. A school authority must ensure that each motor vehicle which the authority provides or arranges to be provided for a dedicated school transport service has a seat belt fitted to each passenger seat.

Additionally, working with key partners, seat belt guidance was created and published for the use of Seat Belts on dedicated school transport.

Commitment - ref RSF57

Fund Road Safety Scotland to develop innovative road safety educational resources (including a new Early Years resource to replace the Children’s Traffic Club in Scotland).

Status - complete

Activity

RSS has become part of the wider Transport Scotland family and continues to develop educational resources, review them and act upon the recommendations of such reviews. Following the evaluation of the Children’s Traffic Club in Scotland a completely new strategic approach, more relevant to Scotland - Go Safe with Ziggy - was developed in 2010. The following list sets out the major outputs produced by RSS.

High-quality road safety materials, which have been written by teachers for teachers, are made available online to allow access to a complete suite of resources for use with children and young people aged 3-18.
Early years: an ‘Out and About’ buggy book for 0-3 years, and ‘Go Safe with Ziggy’ resource for 3-6 years
For Primary (First and Second Levels), the main resources are: ‘Streetsense2’ (under development); and the ‘Junior Road Safety Officer’ scheme; the latter operates in all 32 local authorities across Scotland
For Lower Secondary (Third and Fourth Level) the main resource is ‘Your Call’
For Upper Secondary (Senior Phase), the main resource is ‘Crash Magnets’
A new resource for complex additional support needs is being developed. Our current road safety learning resources from early years through to senior phase is under review to ensure they are accessible to children and young people with ASN in mainstream education.
Theatre in Education – exploring current approach or whether an alternative could prove more effective and has greater scope to be measured ensuring road safety learning continues to be embedded in the education that children and young people receive in school
Additional resources include a reaction timer; an App which uses a gaming platform to enhance child pedestrian training; and a website for those about to embark on a driving career

Commitment - ref RSF58 P2

Review the evidence base and consider whether this supports the need for further research to investigate the apparent links between road safety and people living in socio-economic disadvantaged communities or ethnic min.

Status - ongoing

Activity

Research on both disadvantaged children and ethnic minority groups was carried out in 2014.

In 2017 a literature review was collected using the Scottish Government library service and internet searches, and summarised evidence from governments, academia and the third sector from 2009 onwards. The findings were presented at the July 2017 OPG meeting.

A further literature review was also carried out in house in 2018 and presented at OPG level.

Commitment - ref RSF91

Aim to achieve our ambitious child casualty reduction targets by 2020, by scrutinising the circumstances of each child fatality and reporting to Scottish Ministers with recommendations for action.

Status - ongoing

Activity

Preparatory work done on in-depth RTC investigation involving child fatalities as part an overall Road Traffic Fatality Study launched in 2019. Transport Scotland and Police Scotland are continuing to work in partnership to establish road traffic fatality research in Scotland. A working group has been created to lead on the delivery and once reports are produced the group will examine the recommendations and agree on how to progress / action the countermeasures which will be shared with this group.

However the 2 child casualty reduction targets to 2020 have been met.

Pedestrians

Commitment - ref RSF24 P3

Encourage the implementation of the guidance for Scottish roads authorities on designing streets, focusing on the needs of pedestrians, and investigate the levels of its adoption and usage.

Status - complete

Activity

In 2010, the Scottish Government published the Local Authority guidance ‘Designing Streets: A Policy Statement for Scotland’ on the design and redesign of new and existing streets, focusing on the needs of all road users.

A report containing the results of research into the implementation of the Designing Streets policy was published in 2013.

The Place Standard could be used as a way of measuring communities’ perceptions of road safety.

Since the publication of Designing Streets, the Scottish Government has worked with SCOTS to create supplementary guidance, templates and audits for Local Authorities.

Commitment - ref RSF74 P1

Encourage local authorities to introduce 20 mph zones or limits in residential areas and areas of towns or cities with a high volume of pedestrians and cyclists as set out in the 2015 Good Practice guide on 20 mph Speed restrictions.

Status - complete

Activity

Revised Good Practice Guide on 20 mph Speed Restrictions, developed in conjunction with the SCOTS, updated to reflect revised TSRGD and published on 24 June 2016.

Transport Scotland supported the Ready for 20 Conference, held in Edinburgh in June 2016 and invited every local authority to attend, offering them a free place.

Pilot sites were delivered on trunk roads at Maybole, with consideration of consultation with communities in Oban, Bigger, Largs and Langholm.

Living Streets delivered the 2016/17- 2017/1 community-led 20 mph project which included pilots that were subsequently evaluated.

Local Authorities speed limit reviews undertaken.

Following the fall of the Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 in June 2019, TS officials have continued to work with CoSLA and SCOTS conducting a review to better understand potential barriers or issues which could be prohibiting local authorities from implementing 20 mph speed limits in the right environments. The main barriers highlighted were lack of funding and lack of resources. Implementing 20 mph zones and limits was a low priority compared with other duties. The Scottish Government supported local authorities to respond to the Covid-19 emergency through the ‘Spaces for People’ fund and some local authorities introduced 20 mph speed limits alongside wider temporary measures such as pop-up cycle lanes and widening walkways to allow people to physically distance. Local authority ambition has seen demand taking the fund over £30 million budget.

Commitment - ref RSF75 P2

Investigate whether alcohol is playing a greater part in pedestrian casualties and, if it is, consider what we can do to reverse the trend.

Status - complete

Activity

TS undertook a literature Review which confirms that a problem exists internationally, but there is a lack of Scotland-specific data.

The Strategic Partnership Board discussed this commitment in November 2014 and considered this is a wider public health issue that goes beyond road safety. It was decided that pursuing interventions solely from a road safety perspective would not be the most appropriate approach.

Transport Scotland analytical services conducted a desk-based evidence review and presented its findings at July 2017 OPG meeting.

Commitment - ref RSF97 P2

Conduct further research to enhance the evidence base for elderly pedestrian casualties which may allow consideration of further measures that will help to reduce casualties, taking into account the impact of an ageing population.

Status - complete

Activity

A literature review was presented to OPG in January 2017 and highlighted that although the number of elderly pedestrians is growing, they are not at an increased risk of being in an accident. However, if involved in one, they are more likely to be killed.

The report evidenced that the road crossing environment, including the types of crossing present and existing supporting traffic calming measures, can influence accidents involving elderly pedestrians and it was suggested that the TRL crossing times report might assist in determining the optimum number of controlled crossings required on a street.

The benefits and importance of appropriate messaging were also discussed, with the suggestion that elderly pedestrians should be offered positive solutions, rather than having a focus on frailty, with pedestrian information possibly being offered via a leaflet or other suitable medium.

In January 2019 the OPG received an update on whether information on kilometres walked can be gathered and if this can be correlated with the key reported road casualties. Each year the Department of Transport produces estimates on the distance travelled by road traffic (including pedal cycles) in Scotland. Estimates are not produced for pedestrians. The source for any Scottish estimates of annual walking distance would be from the Scottish Household Survey (SHS). The SHS includes a one day travel diary that records details of the journeys that the survey respondent made the previous day (including distance). There is specific issues to walking, in that short periods of walking are not routinely recorded if they form part of a journey involving other modes of transport. Previous analysis has found SHS undercounts journeys by 30-40% compared to other sources. Going forward the Transport Statistics team will investigate annualised pedestrian KM travel estimates as part of a wider look at producing ‘annualised’ travel estimates from the Scottish Household Survey.

Motorcyclists

Commitment - ref RSF25

Develop a website which provides a link to all sites providing information on a range of issues, including safety, of interest to motorcyclists.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS has a dedicated motorbike section within its website.

Commitment - ref RSF76

Provide support for motorcyclists, e.g. through advanced rider training schemes and raise awareness of bad or dangerous riding behaviour, through safety awareness initiatives such as Operation Zenith.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS supported legacy Police forces with the delivery of Bikesafe when the scheme was in operation from 2009 to 2013, however it was no longer supported in Scotland following the formation of the single Police Scotland force in 2014.

RSS has supported Police Scotland with their launch of motorcycle campaign 'Operation Zenith' since 2014, and coordinated road safety input from various partners to the Scottish Motorcycle Show.

The RIDE (Rider intervention Developing Experience) Scheme has been designed as an intervention for those motorcyclists whose behaviour has brought them to the attention of the Police. This Scheme, as part of 2 NDORS national schemes in operation in Scotland, is designed to address undesired behaviour or for those motorcyclists who have demonstrated careless riding leading to a collision.

Recent investment in a dedicated enforcement motorcycle with camera equipment (same as a camera van) designed around deployment on routes where there are particular issues with rider behaviour. This was complemented by a focused media and communications strategy.

The Scottish Biker Magazine was funded through the Framework fund in 2016/17. The overall aim of the project is to provide resources to all motorcyclists to help improve their knowledge, behaviours and skills, thus contribute towards a reduction in motorcyclist casualty rates.

More recently Rider Refinement North was funded through the Framework fund in 2018/19 to reduce the high number of motorcycle casualties in the North and North East of Scotland by delivering a bespoke defensive rider training package aimed at improving rider skills and enhancing safety. The scheme was evaluated in 2018.

Commitment - ref RSF77 P2

Through RSS, support targeted publicity campaigns aimed at motorcyclists.

Status - complete

Activity

Road Safety Scotland, in collaboration with SG Marketing, Police Scotland and other Partners, developed the Live fast Die Old (LFDO) campaign, which launched at the start of the biking season in 2015 and was directed at older male bikers. It specifically encouraged them to slow down on left-hand bends, which feature prominently in biking accidents. The campaign ran again in 2016 encompassing a message about overtaking. In 2018, the LFDO site was enhanced with the addition of a series of Breathtaking Roads videos dealing with riding in mountain, coastal and forest routes, and a group riding video was added in 2019. The previous top tips videos were replaced by an expert police biker doing commentary rides covering off a number of different riding situations/manoeuvres. This campaign was recognised by the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards’ scheme in 2020.

Argyll & Bute were funded to deliver their Scottish Biker magazine throughout 2017 and launched a dedicated website.

Communications activity has been undertaken supporting motorcycle camera deployments on routes favoured by motorcyclists.

Commitment - ref RSF92 P2

Consider the needs and vulnerabilities of motorcyclists in developing motorcycle-friendly roads and roadsides where this may support casualty reduction, while ensuring that motorcycle safety is fully considered when other traffic calming schemes are introduced.

Status - complete

Activity

Transport Scotland conducted a study on motorcycle collisions that identified potential locations for more installations.

PRIME (Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment) pilots on the trunk road network have taken place in popular motorcycle routes and the data was collected before and after the installation of markings to capture any changes in rider behaviour. The overall objective is to reduce the number of motorcyclists being killed or seriously injured on Scotland's roads.

Bikeguard installations have been provided including the A702 at Wandel, the A68 at Carter Bar, the A9 Ord of Caithness, the A828 at Appin, the A7 between Langholm to Hawick and locations on the A95.

Pedal Cyclists

Commitment - ref RSF26

Develop a Cycling Action Plan for Scotland that will incorporate actions to achieve the overarching outcome of ‘more people cycling more often’. One action will be to increase the numbers of children receiving cycle training and therefore promoting road safety.

Status - complete

Activity

Cycling Action Plan for Scotland 2017-2020 published in January 2017 is the third iteration of the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS). It is the most progressive, representing six years of shared work by partners and an unshakable commitment to the 2020 vision.

Commitment - ref RSF27

Ensure that all road users receive appropriate education and training to encourage safer cycling in the road environment, including journeys to and from school and in residential areas.

Status - complete

Activity

The Cycling Scotland “Give Everyone Cycle Space” awareness campaign has been running on an annual basis since 2016 and is funded by Transport Scotland’s Sustainable and Active Travel Team.

Cycling Scotland has rolled out Practical Cycle Awareness Training for Drivers (PCAT) of LGVs and PCVs, initiated through 2014 funding from the Road Safety Framework Fund of the project "Vulnerable Road User Awareness Training for Drivers of LGVs and PCVs " (£60,000), with at least 15 partner local authorities in 2017. Before and after monitoring data on knowledge and attitudes around vulnerable road users is collected from participating drivers, indicating that support for cycle training for professional drivers increased from 75% to 100% in post-course surveys. In partnership with Recycle-A-Bike, Cycling Scotland are offering subsidised training to local authority staff, while providing access to commercial operators at cost rates. The Learner Driver Cycle Awareness Training (LDCAT) Evaluation Study was published in 2018.

Cycling Scotland provided early intervention, and incentivise young and learner drivers preparing for their driving test to undertake vulnerable road-user awareness training including Practical Cycle Awareness Training, contributing to both the Drivers Aged 17-25 and Cyclist Outcomes. Cycling Scotland also delivers the Essential Cycling Skills (ECS) course which is a practical course for anyone who wants to develop their confidence on a bicycle.

Police Scotland Road Policing and Community Officers partnered to run Operation Close Pass across Scotland. These pro-active initiatives provide education via a ‘chat on the mat’ (using roadside mats illustrating appropriate passing distances), and enforcement where appropriate, to motorists observed affording cyclists insufficient space. Trained police cyclists use bicycles equipped with recording equipment to corroborate their own observations. Cycling Scotland provide equipment and media messaging support for these initiatives.

Commitment - ref RSF28 P2

Continue to monitor and develop Bikeability resources for dissemination to those responsible for co-ordinating the Bikeability programme.

Status - complete

Activity

Transport Scotland provides on-going support to Cycling Scotland for the initiative which was launched in 2011, incorporates cycle training levels 1-3 with a refresh rolled out in 2012 and continues to be delivered throughout Scotland. Bikeability Scotland continued to offer youngsters on-road training to improve their skills in making safer, independent journeys by bike, with 40% of primary schools in 29 authorities offering the training. New Bikeability Plus modules target increased parental engagement and encourage younger children to develop control skills.

Regional Cycle Training and Development Officers, a partnership between Cycling Scotland, TACTRAN and SEStran are accelerating the roll out of all cycle training, including Bikeability.

Commitment - ref RSF78 P3

Encourage the wearing of correctly fitted helmets.

Status - complete

Activity

The wearing of correctly fitted cycle helmets for children is recommended and encouraged in all RSS’s education resources featuring cycling for children.

"Bikeability" contains material relating to the wearing of correctly fitting cycle helmets as an integral part of the child cyclist training programme in Scotland.

Commitment - ref RSF93 P2

Ensure cyclists are considered in new road and maintenance schemes, through the implementation of the Trunk Road Cycling Initiative and the standards and advice contained in “Cycling by Design 2010”, where the (re-) design of identified higher risk road locations such as junctions may contribute to the reduction of casualty numbers.

Status - complete

Activity

Transport Scotland has invested in infrastructure-based cycling-related projects, for example:

Glasgow - installation of flashing amber lights as part of traffic control system to help accommodate cyclists
Inverness - quality, safe route to school and a commuting link on
The new Hillington footbridge is accessible to pedestrians and two 377 ft ramps provide access for cyclists and less-abled users
Kirkcaldy - re-designing a neighbourhood to “Designing Streets” standard and to allow pedestrians and cyclists to avoid busy roads on their journeys.

Cycling By Design and the Trunk Road Cycling Initiative (a precursor to the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland 2013 sets out special consideration for cyclists in all new trunk road schemes and within improvements of existing trunk roads) were updated by Transport Scotland in 2017.

Driving for Life

Pre-drivers

Commitment - ref RSF29 P3

Support the promotion of and encourage take up of the safe road user award and evaluate the uptake and completion of the course.

Status - complete

Activity

Safe Road User Award is available within the SQA suite of courses which can be accessed by approved centres. RoSPA Scotland developed the SQA qualification for road safety practitioners in Scotland and has been awarded accredited delivery status. However this was mothballed a few years ago as a consequence of lack of uptake. This coincided with the significant reduction in the number of Local Authority Road Safety Officers, essentially the target audience for the programme.

Commitment - ref RSF79 P1

Seek to influence young people’s attitudes to road safety and future driving behaviour before they get behind the wheel and investigate the usage and delivery by schools of pre-driver educational intervention and eve.

Status - complete

Activity

The Get into Gear website has continued to aid and assist those involved in educating young people aged 16-18 at school, college and in training on road safety issues involving young drivers and young passengers. The site was incorporated into RSS website in 2020.

An independent evaluative assessment of young driver interventions Safe Drive Stay Alive and Edinburgh Young Driver activity in Scotland was conducted in 2015 on behalf of TS. The scope of the assessment was not full-scale but focussed on possible changes in knowledge and behaviours of young people in relation to driving and road safety as a result of young driver interventions in three case study areas in Scotland. It found evidence for changing knowledge, behaviours and attitudes but recommended further evaluation would be needed. An evaluation Framework was prepared as a supplementary document by the independent evaluators ODS as a tool for practitioners and delivery partners to support further outcomes-based evaluation of such young driver interventions.

TRL undertook in 2018 a research on review and assessment of pre-driver interventions in Scotland. It aimed to inform future direction, investment and delivery of pre-driver interventions across Scotland.

Commitment - ref RSF80 P2

Support outcomes-based evaluation of pre-driver interventions with a view to further developing a guide to organising pre-driver events for senior secondary school pupils.

Status - complete

Activity

An evaluation Framework was prepared in 2015 by the independent evaluators ODS of Safe Drive Stay Alive as a tool for practitioners and delivery Partners to support further outcomes-based evaluation of such young driver interventions.

Drivers Aged 17-25

Commitment - ref RSF09 P1

Continue to look for innovative ways to target younger drivers with appropriate messages, including effective social media platforms, about safe driving to increase their awareness and understanding of their vulnerability and the dangers they face due to age and inexperience.

Status - complete

Activity

Road Safety Scotland’s parental guide “So Your Teenager is Learning to Drive?” is still available for hints and tips to keep young drivers safe. The launch of the Klang app in February 2015 augmented existing education resources including Ziggy and Your Call, allowing various formats to continue to emphasise the significance of early years, and the principle of lifelong learning as being important to future driving behaviour. The Klang app was refreshed in 2017.

An evaluation framework for Safe Drive Stay Alive (SDSA) and similar young driver educational interventions in Scotland, prepared by the independent evaluators ODS, was published in 2015. It is a tool for practitioners and delivery Partners to support further outcomes-based evaluation of such young driver interventions.

In 2017/18 Cycling Scotland were funded to pilot a Practical Cycle Awareness Training initiative for Learner Drivers, alongside Glasgow City Council Road Safety Team to increase awareness of vulnerable road users before the Driving Test is sat.

Commitment - ref RSF10

Conduct a public debate on young driver issues including graduated licences and additional training.

Status - complete

Activity

A Scottish Government National Debate on young drivers safety was held in 2013. It contained 17 recommendations, including a training day.

Commitment - ref RSF59

Provide information and support for parents and carers on how to set a good driving example.

Status - complete

Activity

An award-winning Parental influence marketing campaign about the importance of parents as role models was run by RSS in 2013. This remains a thread in RSS resources and, in 2018, RSS published a new Ziggy storybook which specifically dealt with Parental Influence.

Commitment - ref RSF60 P2

Encourage younger drivers to undergo post-test training, by engaging with the private sector including the insurance industry to explore incentivisation, and to support national coordination of the use of outcomes-based evaluation of post-test training.

Status - ongoing

Activity

The focus of this commitment in recent times has been in trying to persuade the UK Government to implement a full graduated driver licence system which would enhance pre-test learning and put restrictions on post-test driving. However this has not come to fruition in Scotland.

The insurance industry takes the approach that they need to see a reduced risk before they can offer reduced premiums. There has been a greater take up of telematics technology in recent years through black boxes, and more recently, apps. Take up is growing.

Police Scotland has worked collaboratively with Scottish Borders Council, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and the IAM RoadSmart to achieve shared outcomes through the delivery of three SG funded sub-projects which includes Pre, Young and Older Driver elements; Young Drivers Advanced Driver courses offered for 100 participants through 12 training blocks.

We have engaged with DISC who are to suggest ideas on how we can introduce the UK Government’s proposal to allow learner drivers to take lessons on motorways in order that they enhance their driving skills and gain experience in a variety of road conditions and on different road types. Consultation outcome was published by the UK Government in 2017. Legislation came into force in June 2018.

Commitment - ref RSF61 P3

Encourage initiatives which lead to qualifications and safer driving attitudes and behaviours and explore flexible delivery and certification approaches to increase uptake.

Status - complete

Activity

The SQA ‘Safe Road User’ Award which was developed by DVSA is available for pre drivers and aims to build positive attitudes to road use and to help young people take responsibility for using the roads safely.

Via the Framework funding, Cycling Scotland provided early intervention training, and incentivised young and learner drivers preparing for their driving test to undertake vulnerable road-user awareness training including Practical Cycle Awareness Training, contributing to both the Drivers Aged 17-25 and Cyclist Outcomes.

RSS continues to promote safety among young drivers and, in 2019 launched a new two-year Young Drivers strategy on a variety of issues related to this age group. The #DriveSmart campaign features a series of larger-than-life ‘gran’ characters, who unexpectedly appear whenever a young driver attempts to do something risky. The Gran theme has been used to tackle a number of issues, most recently drink and drug driving in the run up to the festive period. This campaign being recognised by the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards’ scheme in 2020. Police Scotland have worked collaboratively with Scottish Borders Council, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and the IAM RoadSmart to achieve shared outcomes through the delivery of three sub-projects, aimed at improving knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours by delivering awareness raising and training opportunities for those drivers most at risk of injury related accidents, contributing to all three Age related overarching Outcomes; Pre-Drivers, Drivers Aged 17-25 and Older Drivers.

People who Drive for Work

Commitment - ref RSF30

Encourage and support the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) (Scotland) with the formation of the Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ScORSA) in order to raise employers’ awareness of the need to have a policy on the Management of Occupational Road Risk (MORR).

Status - complete

Activity

Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ScORSA) created to help and support small and medium sized businesses to do this where such specialist knowledge would normally be out with their budgetary constraints.

The Health and Safety Executive has worked closely with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and police forces to produce clear and consistent guidance for businesses to help them comply with the law and enable consistent enforcement to protect professional drivers and members of the public, particularly vulnerable road users.

The Health and Safety Executive has also produced new guidance on driving for work that includes drink/drugs and fatigue specifically.

Commitment - ref RSF31

Continue our activities to ensure that Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) training is embedded within the freight industry.

Status - complete

Activity

SAFED is a complementary driver development course, consisting of assessment and training. It intends to improve the safe and fuel efficient driving skills of LCV / LGV drivers. It therefore should complement a much broader programme of commercial vehicle fleet efficiency management.

Commitment - ref RSF32

Introduce the development of SAFED training for van drivers in Scotland.

Status - complete

Activity

A case study for Fuel Saving in a Scottish Haulage Fleet, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Scottish Government, and compiled with assistance from John Mitchell (Grangemouth) Ltd was published in 2010. It promotes SAFED.

Commitment - ref RSF81

Provide road safety and speed awareness sessions for Scottish Government staff.

Status - ongoing

Activity

The Scottish Government organised a FuelGood training session in 2014.

Commitment - ref RSF82

Ensure that all contractors working with Scottish Government have a MORR policy in place.

Status - incomplete

Activity

Transport Scotland became Strategic Partner of the Driving For Better Business scheme early 2020 and officials have been encouraged to promote membership to this scheme or to ScORSA to any fleet managers bidding for TS contracts.

Commitment - ref RSF94

Encourage an increase in the provision of rest areas across Scotland.

Status - complete

Activity

In August 2011 the Scottish Freight and Logistics Advisory Group (ScotFLAG) issued a report on lorry parking. The work concluded that the main issue with lorry parking was not so much the lack of supply, but the quality of facilities on offer (these concerns are across GB, not just in Scotland).

Information on the location of lorry parking facilities is provided on the Traffic Scotland website. The Freight Best Practice Scotland programme issued a driver’s guide on lorry parking. This is available free to download from the Transport Scotland website and provides simple advice on how to locate a safe place to park, what to look for in a parking location, and how to determine the risks to the driver and their vehicle. In considering the provision of lay-bys and toilet facilities along the A9, Transport Scotland sought to balance the needs of users of the A9 (HGV drivers, hill walkers, tourists, etc.) and the local communities as part of the design process. The ‘Lay-by and Rest Area Strategy (March 2015)’ outlined Transport Scotland’s approach to the provision of lay-bys, enhanced lay-bys and rest areas as part of the A9 Dualling Perth to Inverness programme. An A96 Dualling Inverness to Aberdeen Rest Area Strategy was developed in 2014 to ensure a consistent approach to identifying rest area provision for the new dualled A96.

Older Drivers

Commitment - ref RSF33

Encourage full use of public transport.

Status - complete

Activity

Transport Scotland have been investing over £1 billion annually over the past few years in public transport, including local bus services, and other sustainable transport options, such as cycling to encourage people out of their cars across Scotland. The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 is designed to help make Scotland’s transport network cleaner, smarter and more accessible than ever before. It makes provisions to improve bus services and develop a Scotland-wide multi-modal smart ticketing. People over 60 or with a disability are eligible for free bus travel to get around Scotland and their local area. They can access this via the National Entitlement Card, their pass to free bus travel in Scotland.

Commitment - ref RSF83 P1

Support initiatives to raise awareness amongst older drivers and their families, of their vulnerability and ways in which they can address this in order to make informed choices.

Status - complete

Activity

In 2017/18 Drivewise Borders, designed to reduce the number of casualties on the roads while positively influencing the attitudes and behaviours of drivers and passengers in the Scottish Borders, was funded by the Framework fund. Since then it has combined practical and theoretical training for pre, new and mature drivers; Drivewise set out to address a gap in driver education. It was evaluated in 2017. It was expanded to Fife in 2018/19 and evaluated in 2019.

In 2018/19 the Framework Fund assisted RoSPA in delivering its Destination Drive project. The project aims to encourage older drivers to review their current driver ability, their individual driving skills and relevant health issues, such as eyesight and cognitive skills to ensure their driving ability is safe for all road users.

Commitment - ref RSF95 P2

Investigate and support ways to promote and facilitate initiatives relating to further accredited or certified training for older drivers including incentivisation to do this.

Status - complete

Activity

Framework-funded project "Saferwheels 50+" was a 2016 partnership project between Stewarty Community Safety Forum and the IAM. The identified project outcomes included increase the awareness and appreciation of elderly drivers of the road safety benefits of undertaking additional driver training; improve the confidence of elderly drivers as road users; and incentivise and improve driver training of elderly drivers as safer road users.

In 2016/17, Police Scotland worked with Scottish Borders Council, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and IAM RoadSmart for the delivery of three sub-projects, aimed at improving knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours by delivering awareness raising and training opportunities, contributing to all three Age related overarching Outcomes. In 2017/18 Drivewise Borders, designed to reduce the number of casualties on the roads while positively influencing the attitudes and behaviours of drivers and passengers in the Scottish Borders, was funded by the Framework fund. Since then it has combined practical and theoretical training for pre, new and mature drivers; Drivewise set out to address a gap in driver education. It was evaluated in 2017. It was expanded to Fife in 2018/19 and evaluated in 2019.

The Destination Drive project, funded by the Framework Fund in 2018/19, aims to encourage older drivers across Scotland to review their current driver ability, their individual driving skills and relevant health issues, such as eyesight and cognitive skills to ensure their driving ability is safe for all road users. RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders is also available to older road users. Early 2020 an evaluation of the Communicating Effectively with Older Drivers project from March 2019 to February 2020 was published.

Drivers from Abroad

Commitment - ref RSF95 P2

Continue to meet the demand for the migrant workers booklet, exploring the need for production in other languages. We will also consult with the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), to ascertain the most effective way to disseminate the information as widely as possible.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS produced a booklet that is available at ports and airports of entry into Scotland. RSS website also contains a dedicated section labelled Driving on the left – advice for visitors to Scotland.

Commitment - ref RSF35

Continue to produce the tourist information leaflet and ‘keep left’ sticker. We will consult with Visit Scotland to ensure it is promoted widely in advance of the tourist season each year.

Status - complete

Activity

In 2019, this activity was increased significantly - working with Police Scotland and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, RSS produced leaflets, online information, wristbands and windscreen stickers for visiting drivers.

Commitment - ref RSF84

Continue to monitor accidents involving foreign drivers and discuss and implement appropriate actions, with partners where relevant.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS has invested significant resources in this area (see previous entry).

Commitment - ref RSF85

Promote the use of Fresnel lenses by left-hand drive HGVs to avoid blind spots and side-swipe incidents.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS purchased a number of Fresnel lenses and made them available to Police Scotland for distribution as they saw fit.

Reducing Risk on the Roads

Rural Roads

Commitment - ref RSF11

Continue to publicise the risks associated with driving and riding on rural roads and warn drivers of potential dangers.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS has undertaken significant campaign activity on rural/country roads, including the Prince Michael award-winning VR360 execution. All campaign activity is supported by the refreshed RSS website. RoSPA also offers a rural road factsheet with the common causes of collisions on rural roads.

The British Horse Society has run its behaviour change theory Dead Slow Campaign and launched its Horse i accident reporting app, both of which are widely used to promote the needs of vulnerable road users (especially equestrians) across Scotland.

Health and Safety Executive has been working with Police Scotland to provide training on vehicle load security for roads policing officers.

Commitment - ref RSF12

Status - completed

Activity

Police Scotland activity ties in with RSS country roads campaigns where practicable.

Commitment - ref RSF62

Consider what further actions to take from current research on rural roads.

Status - completed

Activity

PRIME (Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment) pilots have taken place in popular motorcycle routes and the data was collected before and after the installation of markings to capture any changes in rider behaviour. The overall objective is to reduce the number of motorcyclists being killed or seriously injured on Scotland's roads.

Commitment - ref RSF63

Encourage any proposal by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to include specific pre-test training on rural roads.

Status - ongoing

Activity

In January 2012 IAM RoadSmart, OPG member, renewed its call on the UK Government to make driving on rural A-roads a mandatory part of the driving test. But the recommendation has not been considered by the UK Government.

Impairment

Commitment - ref RSF13

Continue to press the UK Government for a reduction in the drink drive limit and for powers for the police to carry out breath testing anytime, anywhere.

Status - complete

Activity

The Drink- Drive limit was lowered in December 2014. An academic evaluation of this policy was published in the Journal of Health Economics in June 2021.

Commitment - ref RSF14

Promote the use of data enabled roadside evidential breath screening devices by Scottish police forces.

Status - complete

Activity

Data-enabled devices were rolled out across Road Policing units in 2017 and rolled them out force-wide in 2020.

Commitment - ref RSF15

Continue to work in partnership with Police Scotland and other partners, including the private sector, to provide publicity in support of enforcement initiatives by Scottish police forces.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS delivers a variety of campaigns covering a number of issues and works closely with Police Scotland to align with enforcement campaigns where practicable.

Commitment - ref RSF36

Press the UK Government to quickly ensure Home Office type approval of roadside drug testing devices.

On 21 October 2019 new legislation came into force in Scotland that set prescribed limits for specific drugs. The legislation has already been in place in England and Wales since 2015. Police use roadside screening devices to test for the presence of cannabis and/or cocaine. A positive saliva sample leads to the driver being arrested and required to provide a blood sample at the police station. This sample is tested for 17 drugs in total and, if positive, the driver is charged. The penalties are the same as drink-driving, including an automatic 12 month ban. Section 5a and Section 4 (unfit to drive impaired by drink or drugs) can be used interchangeably so, if the forensics show zero or readings below the limits, police can revert to Section 4.

Commitment - ref RSF64

Give greater prominence to the ‘Don’t risk it’ message throughout the year through the targeting of more road policing officers to carry out increased enforcement and raise the perceived risk of being caught.

Status - complete

Activity

In 2019, following testing, the "Don't Risk It" strapline was deemed irrelevant to the younger audience and is no longer used.

Commitment - ref RSF65

Introduce, in liaison with the Scottish Government Marketing Unit, drink drive publicity campaigns outside of the traditional summer and festive seasons.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS, working with SG Marketing and Insights Unit, and Police Scotland, continues to maximise resources and adopt an 'always-on' approach where resources allow and can be accommodated within a wider campaign schedule.

Commitment - ref RSF86

Raise awareness of the dangers of fatigue among drivers.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS ran a fatigue campaign in 2015 and in 2020. The topic of Driver fatigue is part of RSS website.

ScORSA promoted the RSS messaging to those who drive for work.

Commitment - ref RSF87

Raise public awareness of the possible effects on driving after taking some prescription or over the counter drugs.

Status - complete

Activity

The topic of Drug-driving is part of RSS website.

Ahead 21 October 2019 in-force date for new legislation setting prescribed limits for specific drugs and with Police Scotland's ability to carry out immediate roadside testing for any driver they suspect of drug-driving, RSS undertook a campaign in September 2019 to raise awareness of the new legal drug limits and the new road side testing procedure.

The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland’s annual festive social marketing campaign ran from 28 November 2019 to 2 January 2020. For the first time, the marketing campaign included advertising tackling drug-driving as well as drink-driving. This campaign was recognised by the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards’ scheme in 2020.

The Health and Safety Executive has produced new guidance on driving for work that includes drink/drugs and fatigue specifically.

Seat belts

Commitment - ref RSF16

Raise awareness of the importance of seatbelts, including via TV and radio advertisement, with a view to creating future generations who will automatically use seatbelts whenever they travel in a vehicle.

Status - complete

Activity

Seatbelt-wearing is a consistent thread in RSS learning resources.

Commitment - ref RSF17

Continue to educate and encourage drivers to ensure that children are properly restrained in cars and vans.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS continues to invest in the annual Good Egg In-Car Safety campaign.

Commitment - ref RSF18

Support the introduction of a requirement for children aged between three and 14 to wear seatbelts on buses and coaches where fitted.

Status - complete

Activity

Additionally working with key partners a seat belt guidance was created and published for the use of Seat Belts on dedicated school transport.

Commitment - ref RSF66

Conduct research into seatbelt compliance in Scotland and act on the research findings.

Status - complete

Activity

This is done on a regular basis through Seatbelt and Mobile Phone Usage Survey Scotland.

Police Scotland takes into account findings from the above mentioned survey as well as PACTS report on 'Seat Belts: Time for Action' to run campaign on seat belts wearing.

Commitment - ref RSF68

Press the case with the UK Government to make non-seatbelt wearing an endorsable offence. (I.e. one which attracts licence penalty points in addition to the current fine).

Status - complete

Activity

In March 2020 the PACTS report on 'Seat Belts: Time for Action' to run campaign on seat belts wearing stated that according to a survey conducted by Direct Line 72% of the British public overwhelmingly support the introduction of penalty points for those found not to be wearing a seat belt when driving. By 2020 the UK Government had not considered this legislative change.

Speed

Commitment - ref RSF19 P1

Continue to publicise and educate people about the risks associated with speeding.

Status - complete

Activity

Annual country roads publicity & awareness campaigns, aimed at motivating drivers to adjust their speed on country roads have run since 2010. Evaluation of the country roads campaigns suggests there may have been some positive attitudinal influence of drivers interviewed in the study of the need to continually adapt driving speed on country roads. Campaign launched in May 2018 used 360 filming and VR.

The A9 safety Group delivered a number of campaigns during 2015 which focused on overtaking, speed limit awareness and fatigue. These campaigns complemented the introduction of the average speed cameras on this route. The performance data following the first monitoring year has indicated sustained changes in driver behaviour and significant casualty reductions which was further confirmed via the 3-year evaluation of the A9 HGV speed increase pilot published in 2018.

The A9 Safety Group ran a campaign on 'Distracted Driving', essentially about social media use of hand held phones while driving. Emerging crash investigation evidence from the A9 suggest fatigue / distraction is a major causation and this along with other evidence and studies, suggests that this is a significant issue across the UK.

Commitment - ref RSF20 P1

Continue to raise awareness of speed limits and their purpose, including those that apply to different types of vehicle on the different categories of roads.

Status - complete

Activity

Scottish Safety Camera Programme communications continue to produce publicity resources on speeding, including focus on "Know Your Limits" in North SCU, materials relevant to different vehicle types on A68 and A1, and targeted motorcycle communication activity from August 2016

Transport Scotland, in conjunction with SCOTS, issued a survey to local authorities in June 2016 to ascertain what actions they have taken as a result of the speed limit review.

Following instruction in September 2018 by the Framework's SPB to set up a Speed Indicator in Scotland to assess actual speeds, based on speed counters, and to a lesser extent, by safety camera activity, the Speed indicator has been developed and 100 counters installed across a variety of types of roads with the speed baseline date starting 1 July 2021.

AECOM evaluation of the potential impacts of increasing speed limits for HGVS in SCOTLAND and AECOM evaluation of A9 HGV pilot were published in July 2018 showing that there are small safety dis-benefits and marginal environmental impacts. While there are no further plans to increase the HGV speed limits in Scotland, this will be re-examined when three years of evidence becomes available from England and Wales. The Department for Transport’s three year evaluation of the HGV speed increase will help develop our understanding of the impact of the HGV speed limit change on driver behaviour, vehicle speeds, the economy, the environment, and most importantly, road safety. When the impacts are known, in summer 2019, we will assess the potential for an increase on roads in Scotland

Speed limit for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over 7.5 tonnes on dual-carriageways in England and Wales rose from 50 mph to 60 mph and 40 mph to 50 mph on single carriageways from April 2015. Scottish Ministers did not believe there was sufficient evidence to increasing HGV speed limits in Scotland at the same time on a national basis. Scottish Ministers will reconsider this position once a National Speed Management Review launched in 2021 is complete in 2022. This review is taking the 3-year evaluation by the DfT of the HGV speed increase in England and Wales published in 2020.

A safer driving publicity campaign was delivered around A9 safety plan, focusing on speed limit awareness and aims to raise awareness of the correct speed limits. Used available resources and materials where possible and complemented the national “driver fatigue” campaign. Evaluation of the A9 safety plan has shown a reduction in vehicles speeding on the 6 monitored stretches of the A9 as well as a reduction in the number of collisions and casualties. A new speed limit compliance campaign aired in Summer 2020.

Commitment - ref RSF21 P2

Continue to support the Safety Camera Programme.

Status - complete

Activity

Refurbishment of A77 ASC system was completed in June 2016 (figures covering the three years to July 2016 indicate a 85% reduction in fatal casualties and a 64% reduction in serious casualties when compared with original baseline published in 2005).

Supported by TS Comms activity and following Police Scotland staff training, motorcycle camera deployments commenced August 2016 on routes favoured by bikers & at higher risk times.

Installation of camera test site in Dec 2016 as part of Variable Mandatory Speed Limit (VMSL) enforcement in Forth Replacement Crossing ITS. Installation of first camera test site installed in April 2017 at M90 southbound at Kirkliston, as part of Variable Mandatory Speed Limit (VMSL) enforcement in Forth Replacement Crossing ITS, now calibrated and providing data. Another three sites installed, tested and commissioned by the end of September 2017.

A90 Average Speed Cameras - Construction commenced on 22 May with full system go live end 2017.

Commitment - ref RSF22

Support the development and implementation of the new viewing and administration system for the Safety Camera Partnerships.

Status - complete

Activity

Following Programme Review, recommendations agreed across five themes: purpose (contribution to road safety vision and targets); site selection; structure (New three Unit structure implemented in North, East and West); funding (New arrangements for provision of grant funding to PS implemented); and governance (New local governance arrangements established, with the Framework’s SPB providing strategic governance and direction;).

Completion of the first comprehensive national site assessment following the Review. New sites identified and enforced from Dec 2016 with those no longer assessed as a priority to be decommissioned from January 2017.

Commitment - ref RSF23

Publish a Delivery Plan on Climate Change that will require significant changes in driving practice.

Status - complete

Activity

Climate Change Plan: third report on proposals and policies 2018-2032 (RPP3) published in February 2018 states that the Energy Savings Trust has trained over 13,400 drivers in fuel efficient driving techniques, which deliver an average 15% improvement in efficiency. In December 2020 the Scottish Government published an update to Scotland's 2018-2032 Climate Change Plan that set out the Scottish Government's pathway to our new and ambitious targets set by the Climate Change Act 2019. Eco-driving is one of many measures that can reduce carbon emission from motor vehicles.

Commitment - ref RSF59 P3

Support the voluntary use of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) and other technologies designed to encourage compliance with speed limits, through engagement with employers and the commercial sector.

Status - ongoing

Activity

The policy intention behind both the ISA commitments was to promote what was now referred to as "advisory" ISA. Latest commercially produced Satnav devices now have these functions as standard. It may be that such advances in technology render this commitment superseded or redundant.

An ISA pilot was considered with the City of Edinburgh Council in 2012, but CEC decided not to proceed for financial reasons.

A review the evidence base of the effectiveness of ISA technologies was completed by TS analytical team and reported back to both SPB and OPG. Further exploratory work in which we can test, promote and encourage ISA (or similar speed limit technologies) adoption in Scotland was superseded by adoption by the EU of the revision of the general safety regulations updating existing rules on car safety contained in the general safety regulation (EC) 661/2009 and the pedestrian safety regulation (EC) 78/2009 which came into force in November 2019 and will apply from mid-2022 first with all new cars put on the EU market that will have to be equipped with advanced safety systems.

Commitment - ref RSF70 P3

Further develop the evidence base to support consideration of a pilot in Scotland to test out the effectiveness of speed limiting technologies.

Status - ongoing

Activity

An ISA pilot was considered with the City of Edinburgh Council in 2012, but CEC decided not to proceed for financial reasons.

Commitment - ref RSF71 P1

Encourage local authorities to implement any changes indicated by their review of speed limits and continue to monitor networks in order to identify changes where these may support casualty reduction.

Status - complete

Activity

Transport Scotland, in conjunction with SCOTS, issued a survey to local authorities in June 2016 to ascertain what actions they have taken as a result of the speed limit review. All 32 Local Authorities were surveyed, with one not responding.

Transport Scotland supported the Ready for 20 Conference, held in Edinburgh in June 2016, and invited every local authority to attend and offered them a free place.

Commitment - ref RSF72 P2

Consider if the introduction of a Speed Awareness Scheme focused on speeding would be an appropriate contribution to road safety in Scotland.

Status - complete

Activity

Early 2017 the Lord Advocate granted Police Scotland permission to carry out a scoping exercise for the potential introduction of these courses in Scotland. As a result Police Scotland carried out preparatory work to establish how speed awareness courses could be introduced and identified practical implementation steps required for this to take place. Following the publication in May 2018 by the DfT of Impact evaluation of the National Speed Awareness Course, Police Scotland considered its findings and concluded their scoping exercise. This was submitted to the Lord Advocate for his consideration and agreement in principle was provided for the introduction of Road Traffic Diversionary Courses (RTDC), including Speed Awareness Courses in Scotland, in January 2019. Following the Lord Advocate’s agreement in principle the Steering Group was reconvened. The group comprises of Police Scotland, COPFS, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Safety Camera Programme. It is currently chaired by a representative of Police Scotland. The group will report back to the Lord Advocate, Chief Constable of Police Scotland and the Road Safety Framework Strategic Partnership Board at the end of the process. The purpose of this Group is to model the introduction of RTDC in Scotland, diversion of offenders by Police Scotland to RTDC and the operational and logistical frameworks of such a diversion scheme for criminal justice partners in order to support the possible introduction of RTDC.

Commitment - ref RSF73 P3

Provide information on the benefits of lower speed driving in relation to fuel efficiency, health impacts and road safety.

Status - complete

Activity

Transport Scotland, through the Home Energy Scotland advice centre, provide advice to around 35,000 consumers each year on sustainable transport which often focuses on fuel efficient driving.

The RSS website provides advice on eco-safe driving.

Transport Scotland is funding the Energy Savings Trust to provide advice to drivers through what was called the Fuel Good Programme.

The majority of training is delivered through organisations and their staff. After the training suggestions for maintaining such savings are provided. A key part of this is promoting the use of telematics, which will help track fuel use for their drivers. It can also inform of incidents of speeding, so the technology also brings with it road safety benefits.

Distraction

Commitment - ref RSF37

Continue to raise awareness through targeted campaigns of the dangers of driver distraction.

Status - complete

Activity

Within the first phase of the new Young Driver activity, RSS tackled distraction caused by mobiles and mates (autumn 2019).

RSS website contains a topic on distraction.

Commitment - ref RSF96

Encourage everyone to acknowledge driving as a skill which requires concentration and judgement.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS has produced on-line advice to drivers, including driving in bad weather leaflet and tips for returning to driving safely and building up confidence.

Designing for Human Error on the Roads

Trunk Roads

Commitment - ref RSF38

Undertake Road Protection Score Surveys, for the remaining two-thirds of Scotland’s trunk road network and determine how this information can complement the existing processes within the road safety engineering programme.

Status - completed

Activity

Transport Scotland commenced development of a trunk road scoring model which is based around a combination of environment, alignment, condition and roadside. This is being finalised for the Trunk Road Network and will result in these being mapped in combination and a score assigned to every 500 meter section.

Commitment - ref RSF39

Continue to consider and implement a range of proactive risk removal strategies to reduce the severity and frequency of impacts with hazards.

Status - complete

Activity

Through the annual trunk road casualty reduction programmes a proportion of funding has been used to deliver a range of proactive risk removal works.

Commitment - ref RSF40

Continue to invest in providing 2+1 overtaking opportunities.

Status - complete

Activity

A77 Maybole Bypass project provides overtaking opportunities on steeper sections of the alignment; completion of the project is anticipated in winter 2021.

A737 Dalry Bypass project includes 2+1 overtaking lanes; the project opened to traffic on 30 May 2019.

Commitment - ref RSF41

Consider the most appropriate barriers to protect vulnerable users such as motorcyclists.

Status - complete

Activity

In 2013 Transport Scotland commissioned TRL to develop a policy for the provision of ‘Motorcycle Friendly’ adjuncts to road restraint systems. This is report in ‘Draft Project Report RPN 2577 – Development of Policy for the Provision of 'Motorcycle Friendly' Adjuncts to Road Restraint Systems’.

This research assessed the proprietary motorcyclist protection systems available on the market in Europe and the UK, and also developed recommendations for implementing a policy for provision of such systems on the Scottish trunk road network. These recommendations have been used to inform the installation of motorcycle friendly adjuncts to road restraint systems.

Commitment - ref RSF42

Continue to invest in junction improvement schemes.

Status - complete

Activity

Through the annual casualty reduction programme we have invested in a range of junction improvement schemes across the trunk road network ranging from minor to more significant interventions. Examples of this include:

A6091 Borders General Hospital junction improvement scheme which was awarded Road Safety Scheme of the Year at the 2019 Highways Awards.
Signalisation of the A92 Balfarg junction.
Signalisation and improvements to the A1 Old Craighall roundabout.
Improvements to the A9 Tain junctions.
Solar studs to improve visibility of 7 junctions on the A1 in the Scottish Borders
Intelligent illuminated roads studs on the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout which work by illuminating the studs in line with the traffic signals, so when through movements are signalled green, the studs are activated. This results in drivers being presented with a clear, illuminated path through the roundabout.
The A77 Maybole Bypass will remove strategic traffic from Maybole High Street, reducing traffic in the town and therefore enhancing the safety for all road users and pedestrians.
A92/A96 Haudagain Improvement once complete the project will help alleviate congestion at the Haudagain Roundabout and will contribute to the reduction of accidents at the junction.
A9 Dualling - Luncarty to Pass of Birnam aims to improve road safety through improvements to existing grade-separated junctions and removal of all direct accesses to the A9 carriageway.

In addition there is a programme of major infrastructure junction improvements that will provide safer grade separated junctions at the following locations:-

A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout
A90/A937 Laurencekirk
A9/A82 Longman

These projects are currently progressing through the design and preparation phases.

Junction improvements are also being delivered as part of the A9 Dualling programme from Perth to Inverness. With improved grade separated junctions already in place following completion of the Luncarty to Birnam project in August 2021 and Kincraig to Dalraddy in September 2017.

Commitment - ref RSF43

Rank the worst performing junctions on the trunk road network, by accident frequency and severity over the last ten years, and prepare a programme to improve selected locations.

Status - complete

Activity

An exercise in ranking the worst performing junctions was carried out annually and appropriate improvements were either undertaken or the proposed schemes or included in a minor improvement programme of works. Latterly, following the publication of the Strategic Road Safety Plan 2016, identification of poorly performing junctions was undertaken annually through the annual road safety performance review.

In addition to the above, in 2020 a cluster analysis of personal injury accidents (PIAs) was carried out to identify locations with higher numbers of accidents. Whilst this is done annually as part of ongoing monitoring of the safety performance of the trunk road, the criteria for a ‘cluster’ was modified to highlight those junctions where accident numbers are significantly higher than that seen elsewhere on the Scottish Trunk Road Network. This information is being used to inform STPR2.

Commitment - ref RSF44

Develop Route Safety Groups for each of the trunk road routes with participation from relevant road safety partners such as Local Authorities, Police Forces, Emergency Services, Safety Camera Partnerships, etc.

Status - complete

Activity

Transport Scotland has developed specific Route Safety Groups/ forums where road safety is considered on a route basis as required such as the A9 Road Safety Group, A77 Safety Group and the A75 Operational Group. Transport Scotland also participated in other Road Safety Groups such as NE Road Safety Group, Highlands and Islands Road Safety Officers Group, Argyll and Bute Multiagency Road Safety Group, Lanarkshire Road Safety Governance Board and Scottish Borders Road Safety Working Group. We also engaged with a number of local community groups in relation to specific routes such as the A68 Focus Group and A7 Action Group.

Commitment - ref RSF45

Examine the possibility for further rollout of TRISS.

Status - complete

Activity

TRISS routes have been expanded on strategic routes as part of Network Management Contract Tranche 1.

Commitment - ref RSF46

Implement Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Status - complete

Activity

STPR Intervention 1 – Strategic Road Safety Plan.

The Strategic Road Safety Plan continued to be developed and delivered through the period of the Framework through the Trunk Road Annual Road Safety Programmes. Following the mid-term review of Road Safety Framework in 2015/2016, the Strategic Road Safety Plan was also updated in 2016 to refocus actions and enhance support for the measures in the updated Road Safety Framework.

Intervention 4 - Work is continuing on the A9 Dualling Perth to Inverness with road users already benefiting from the dualled stretch between Kincraig and Dalraddy (since September 2017).

The second section to be dualled, between Luncarty and the Pass of Birnam, opened fully to traffic on 28 August 2021.

The Contract Notice for the next section between Tomatin to Moy was published on 19 August 2021.

Design work is progressing well on the rest of the programme, with the statutory process well underway for seven of the remaining eight schemes.

Queensferry Crossing opened to traffic on 30 August 2017. The £1.35 bn investment has provided a more reliable route across the Forth and is delivering benefits for the economy, businesses and commuters.

Its connecting infrastructure provides a road corridor that is more reliable and resilient than the one it replaces by providing;

A motorway with at least two lanes in each direction linking the key strategic routes either side of the Forth with junctions designed to modern standards.

Wind Shielding on the Queensferry Crossing which has already significantly reduced traffic disruption due to high winds.

M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements opened progressively to traffic with all traffic management restrictions removed on 01 June 2017. The £500 m investment is delivering significant benefits to Scotland and helping promote sustainable economic growth by improving access to facilities and employment. This investment aimed to remove congestion with significant journey time savings experienced across the central Scotland motorway network since the scheme opened.

The £745 m Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/ Balmedie to Tipperty project fully opened to traffic on 19 February 2019 delivering substantial benefits across the whole of the north east and providing a boost to the economy; increasing business and tourism opportunities; improving safety; cutting congestion as well as increasing opportunities for improvements in public transport facilities.

A737 Dalry Bypass opened to traffic on 30 May 2019 improving road safety and journey time reliability.

A737 The Den Realignment opened to traffic on 05 December 2019. The project involved the removal of substandard bends and introduced road safety benefits at this location.

Local Roads

Commitment - ref RSF47

Continue to seek improvements to the planning, co-ordination and implementation of safety measures at road works through Codes of Practice and further legislation if necessary.

Status - complete

Activity

The 32 Scottish Local Authorities (with Transport Scotland for trunk roads) have responsibility for the day to day management and coordination of works undertaken on the roads for which they have responsibility. The reinstatement of road surfaces remains the responsibility of the party undertaking the works. Safety at Street Works and Road Works - A Code of Practice was reviewed in October 2013.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 raised the standard, and improve the quality, of road works in Scotland, and provide the Scottish Road Works Commissioner (SWRC) with better options to deal with poor performance. For example the requirement for reinstatement quality plans (to establish that organisation have the necessary processes and competence to execute road works to the required standards).

Commitment - ref RSF48

Encourage and promulgate research and guidance in the engineering field through SCOTS.

Status - complete

Activity

In conjunction with SCOTS, Transport Scotland issued a survey to local authorities in June 2016 to ascertain what actions have been taken as a result of the 2012 speed limit review, and the extent to which Local Authorities have introduced 20mph limits or zones. The overwhelming majority of Local Authorities had implemented some speed limit changes, with eight having carried out a major/ extensive implementation of 20mph zones or limits. For example, in 2016, Edinburgh City Council initiated the rollout of a city-wide 20mph scheme with an expected completion date of 2018.

Revised Good Practice Guide on 20 mph Speed Restrictions, developed in conjunction with SCOTS, was updated to reflect revised TSRGD and published on 24 June 2016.

Commitment - ref RSF88

Produce a best practice guide with SCOTS for carrying out safety audits by reviewing current local authority procedures.

Status - complete

Activity

SCOTS, supported by Transport Scotland and Scottish Government Planning and Architecture Division, published in 2017 their National Roads Development Guide. This document supports Designing Streets and expands on its principles to clarify the circumstances in which it can be used. This includes section on Safety audits.

Commitment - ref RSF89

Monitor and evaluate the progress of the A811 route safety strategy and, if successful in the reduction of casualties, encourage rollout across Scotland.

Status - complete

Activity

Following the successful introduction of the A811 route strategy in 2009, a number of route strategies have been implemented across Scotland. All route strategies in use in 2015 were subject to a safety camera site selection prioritisation exercise undertaken by the Scottish Safety Camera Programme.

Safe Vehicles

Commitment - ref RSF49

Signpost information for car buyers to help them to make informed safer and greener choices.

Status - complete

Activity

On its website, RSS signposted information on other sites for users to make greener and safer choices when purchasing vehicles.

Commitment - ref RSF50

Support EC recommendations to include safety features in new cars as standard.

Status - complete

Activity

Transport Scotland, as member of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), has supported the revision of the general safety regulations updating existing rules on car safety contained in the general safety regulation (EC) 661/2009 and the pedestrian safety regulation (EC) 78/2009 which came into force in November 2019 and will apply from mid-2022 first with all new cars put on the EU market that will have to be equipped with advanced safety systems. Post Brexit the UK Government has still to decide if it will adopt it in full or partially.

Commitment - ref RSF51

Encourage and support the fitting of close-proximity lenses to HGVs.

Status - complete

Activity

RSS purchased a number and made them available to Police Scotland for distribution as they saw fit.

Commitment - ref RSF90

Ensure that all new cars purchased or hired by the Scottish Government have a high rated EuroNCAP rating, low engine size, low emissions and are fuel efficient.

Status - incomplete

Activity

In 2019 the Scottish Government bought eight electric cars to help meet a commitment to reduce carbon emissions from its fleet. 40% of its 200 vehicles fleet were ULEV end of 2019 and the target is 80% by 2022. However there was no requirement for the EuroNCAP rating.