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A parliamentary answer to MSP Murdo Fraser has revealed that the accident rate per kilometre is higher on single carriageway sections of the A9 than on dual carriageway sections of the A9.
Murdo Fraser has also obtained information that breaks down the fatal accident rate on different sections of the A9 from 2004 to 2008. The figures show that the Dunblane to Perth section (11 fatalities), Perth to Pitlochry section (6 fatalities), Pitlochry to Inverness section (27 fatalities) and Inverness to Thurso section (16 fatalities) all have varying accident rates. Murdo hopes that the information will refocus the SNP Government on dualling the A9 in entirety from Perth to Inverness to reduce the accident rate.
Commenting on the statistics, Murdo said:
“Road-users of the A9 know full well that the road is claiming too many lives and that sections of the A9 are dangerous to drive on. Through parliamentary answers, it is now clear that more accidents per kilometre occur on single carriageway sections of the A9 than on dualled sections.
“This is the latest evidence that shows there is an urgent need to dual the whole of A9 between Perth and Inverness in order to reduce fatalities on the road.
“Many people comment on how they do not like driving on the A9 road due to its long and dangerous stretches of single carriageway and the fact that the road continually switches between single and dual carriageway. If the A9 is dualled in its entirety between Perth and Inverness then both of these problems will be eradicated and I am sure that we will see a reduction in the number of fatalities and serious accidents.
“I accept that dualling the A9 will not end accidents on the road but it is clear that dualling this road will greatly reduce the number of accidents and save lives. That is why we must see the Scottish Government give a firm commitment and timetable for full dualling and put in place the funds required instead of continually evading any concrete commitments.”
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