Speeding motorists who rush home from work on a Friday afternoon were today warned that they could be literally ‘dying for the weekend’ as new Scottish Executive figures show that road accidents increase by almost one fifth at that time of the week.
This research shows that a Friday afternoon - when there is an 18.7 percent increase in causalities in road traffic accidents compared to the rest of the working week - is the most dangerous time on Scotland’s roads.
Analysts believe that one of the reasons for the increase is that motorists are speeding home after a long and tiring week at work – resulting in people literally dying for the weekend.
Drivers are today being asked to think again about the true cost of their speeding – for them, their families and other road users – particularly if the following excuses sound all too familiar:
1. I was late for an appointment
2. I was running behind schedule
3. I didn't realise what the speed limit was
4. The traffic was moving faster than I normally drive
5. I was feeling stressed
These are some of the most common excuses used by drivers when they are caught speeding. However, they may have been the lucky ones because all too often the real cost of speeding is not simply a fine or penalty points but an accident involving the speeding motorist, their passengers and/or another road user.
There were more than 18,000 casualties in Scotland in 2004 due to road traffic accidents which included motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Motorists are being asked to use these top five tips to ensure that they don’t become another one of those statistics:
1. Allow enough time for your journey. You WILL be late if you are in a collision.
2. Check your speedometer regularly. Just because other drivers may be speeding doesn't mean you have to.
3. Always check your speed after leaving a motorway. If you've been driving at high speeds, 50mph can often feel like 30.
4. Use your gears properly. In a 30mph zone, third gear is high enough.
5. The speed limit is not a target. Drive carefully to suit the road and weather conditions.
Fatal Friday is not restricted to the UK, it is a world wide phenomenon, with countries like America and New Zealand reporting similar findings. In Australia the government installs harsher driving penalties on a Friday in a bid to crack down on “Fatal Friday Syndrome”.
The Scottish Safety Camera Programme is launching a road safety campaign on Monday 16 January in a bid to cut road traffic accidents in Scotland.
Notes to Editors
Research and statistics are taken from Scottish Executive publications - Road Accidents Scotland 2003 Edition and Key 2004 Road Accident Statistics