In the last ten years, the total number of fatal and serious collisions in Scotland has fallen by 43% and this is in no small part due to preventative measures in place to ensure motorists drive safely.

Dumfries and Galloway Council Safety Camera Partnership has been ensuring that area motorists drive safely and responsibly on the regions roads for the last decade. Figures released earlier this year provide evidence that the Partnership is having a positive impact on local driving habits.

Recent statistics show that the level of serious crashes in Dumfries and Galloway has dropped sharply since the Partnership was formed in 2003.

The latest three-year average number of serious incidents – recorded at 20 sites across the region – has been reduced by 81% while the rate of minor incidents is 69% lower than before mobile cameras were introduced.

While cameras continue to help reduce fatalities, dangerous drivers are also being warned that there is a financial cost to speeding as fines have been increased to £100 as well as three penalty points.

Inspector Neil Hewitson, Police Scotland said “We are encouraged by the decline in serious road crashes in our region and believe that the Safety Camera Partnership has been a major contributory factor in achieving this. It is vital that drivers in our region recognise the importance and benefits of reducing their speed and always adjust their speed according to the prevailing driving conditions.

However, it is crucial that lessons are learned from every life lost on our roads and the Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims offers us all a chance to reflect on this.

The day also gives us time to acknowledge the hard work of our emergency services who respond to road traffic collisions. The professionalism of these men and women will ensure that fatal incidents on our roads will continue to be significantly reduced in the future.”