Border Telegraph | News | Death car used in road safety shock

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 1st August, 2007 16:02

Death car used in road safety shock

By Border Telegraph Newsroom

TRAFFIC cops have reverted to shock tactics in a bid to stem the trend of road deaths in the Borders.

Officers are taking a smashed-up car involved in a fatal crash to schools and public events all over the region to deliver their safe driving message.

And they are also going to introduce improved driving courses for pensioners in a double-pronged attack on road deaths.

Despite numerous campaigns 2007 looks like becoming one of the worst on record for fatalities.

So far this year 10 motorists have lost their lives on local roads – three of them under the age of 25, and four aged over 60.

In July alone a 21-year-old biker from the north of England died on the A68 and a 19-year-old man from Selkirk was killed at the wheel on the A7.

PC Rory Campbell from Lothian and Borders Road Policing told the Border Telegraph: “The car we use gives a very visual message to anyone who drives or is thinking about driving.

“It hit a tree and rolled over killing the male driver. The message we put across is that the car was only travelling at 50 miles per hour when it crashed – a speed that most of us will travel at – and the driver broke his neck.

“It is an effective way of getting the message across and we hope it will make young drivers take more care on the road.”

The wrecked car, which was donated by the dead teenager’s family from the north of England, was on display over the weekend at the Border Union Show in Kelso.

And will also be taken to events aimed at school pupils.

But the local traffic police are also hoping to get the safe driving message across to the older generation.

PC Campbell added: “Older people’s driving courses will be introduced later this year.

“Figures show they are at risk just as much as young drivers.”

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