A new report has identified Moray as being amongst the most dangerous areas in the UK for deaths and serious injuries on its roads.
In a report by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Road Safety (PACTS) conducted in conjunction with Direct Line Insurance, the Moray parliamentary constituency is listed as being in the top 10% in terms of people either killed or seriously injured in road accidents.
According to the report while Moray has a significantly lower than average road accident rate, those accidents that do happened are more often at higher speeds.
The figures are being highlighted this week by Moray MP Angus Robertson, who said that while they show serious accidents on Moray’s roads had actually reduced in recent years “one road death was too many”.
Mr Robertson added that there had also been a disproportionate number of motorcyclists who have lost their lives or been seriously injured on Moray roads.
He said: “Sadly most people will know of someone who has been killed or seriously injured in a car accident.
“In recent years the work of the police and road safety campaigners, combined with safer vehicles has resulted in a big drop in fatal and serious road collisions but there are still too many such incidents and any road death is one too many.
“As the warmer weather approaches many motorcycle enthusiasts will also be heading out on Moray’s roads and while the majority are careful riders, motorcyclists still make up a disproportionately large number of those involved in serious accidents.
“I would urge people to think ahead on our roads, particularly in more challenging weather and on our rural roads which are busier from spring through to autumn and which present particular challenges.
“Combined with the ongoing efforts of the police we can make our roads safer still with good awareness and consideration of other road users.”