A new report highlights the A96’s dangerous spots, prompting calls for urgent safety upgrades from local leaders.
Aberdeenshire: A recent report has revealed that six of the ten most dangerous spots on Scotland’s trunk road network are on the A96. This is a big deal, right? The report from Amey, which is part of Transport Scotland, is raising alarms about safety on this route.
In their Annual Road Safety Review for 2024/25, they pointed out that places like the Blackburn and Inverurie roundabouts are particularly risky. It’s not just a few bumps; these areas need serious attention.
Douglas Lumsden, the North East Conservative MSP, didn’t hold back. He called the A96 a “death trap” and said it’s no surprise that so many high-risk spots are found there. He’s really pushing for the Scottish Government to step up and make some changes.
Interestingly, the A96 south of the Keith bends and east of Hardmuir also made the list of the ten riskiest locations. It’s concerning, especially since there have been 14 deaths on this road in the last five years.
Lumsden is frustrated, saying the government’s failure to upgrade the A96 is a betrayal to families affected by accidents. He believes that one death or injury is too many and that the A96 is still one of Scotland’s most dangerous roads.
He also mentioned that residents have to deal with the dangers of the A90 Toll of Birness and Cortes junctions daily, which the government seems to ignore. It’s a tough situation for everyone living in the area.
Amey suggested some proactive measures to improve safety, like resurfacing the road and adding vehicle restraint systems. They also mentioned that realigning the carriageway could be a long-term goal, but that would be more complicated and costly.
It’s clear that something needs to change. Lumsden’s call for action is a wake-up call for the Scottish Government to finally pay attention to the North East’s road safety issues.
