THE number of people killed or seriously injured on Borders roads has risen by nearly 50 per cent, new figures show.

A report from Police Scotland shows that between April and September 2017, 32 people were killed or seriously injured on the region’s roads.

However, that figure has risen to 47 for the same period in 2018.

Additionally there’s been eight deaths on the roads between April and September this year, but only half as many over the same period in 2017.

The report, submitted to Scottish Borders Council’s police, fire and rescue and safer communities board, explains the doubling of fatalities stems from motorcycle crashes: “It is disappointing to see the 100 per cent increase in fatalities in the Scottish Borders.

“Six of these accidents relate to motorcycles, four of the riders reside out with the Scottish Borders and were passing through the area.

“It is hoped that the motorcycle programme introduced into Drivewise this year and the current interest in rolling out Drivewise in other council areas will positively impact these figures going forward.”

Drivewise Borders is a partnership consisting of Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Scottish Borders Council, Institute of Advanced Motorists, and Cleland Volvo.

The partnership aims to improve driving skills in under 17-year-olds, 17 to 25-year-olds and over 65-year-olds, and the report claims Drivewise has “positively influenced the behaviour of over 1,000 residents”.

The report emphasises reducing road accidents and casualties within the Border through prevention and through influencing drivers’ behaviour.

These measures include speed checks, road engineering, targeted patrols of areas notorious for anti-social driving, placing lifesize cutouts of police officers on road sides, and working with Scottish Fire and Rescue on ways to prevent motorcycle accidents.

Furthermore, Police Scotland are continuing ‘operation lose the blinkers’, a programme designed to educate drivers and horse riders about safety on our roads.