Serious Injury
Will Scotland’s new camera technology make a difference to road safety?
Stuart Cochran, principal lawyer and head of serious injury, provides comment on the latest technology introduced by Transport for Scotland as part of their future road safety strategies.
"Transport for Scotland has announced major new technology to detect distracted drivers, the first of its kind to monitor mobile phone usage and non-seatbelt wearers. The new technology has been deployed with an aim to monitor driver behaviour, collecting data to inform future road safety strategies and provide further understanding to such risks behind the wheel.
In recent research conducted by Slater and Gordon, 33% of Scottish residents believe distraction, such as mobile phone use, is one of the leading causes of road incidents. In Edinburgh specifically, this statistic rises to 65%.
Our research also uncovered other unsafe behaviours, including 23% of Scottish residents adjust their in-car settings whilst driving, meanwhile 17% say they have listened to music or the radio so loudly that it affected their ability to hear their surroundings.
Distractions at the wheel are not to be taken lightly. As serious injury lawyers, we see far too often the consequences that distractions have – where everything can change in an instant.
With the new technology, it will absolutely make a significant difference. We can gain a truer picture across what common bad habits and poor driving behaviours drivers are becoming too comfortable with. Whilst the results might be a shocking picture, they are paramount to making change.
Once Transport for Scotland gains further understanding with such behaviours, they can understand what priorities need addressing to reshape road safety awareness and ultimately create an effective plan to avoid casualties and injuries occurring on the road. These conversations
Remember, distractions are not only physical – but it's worth addressing how fatigue and emotional stress can also be distracting factors. 17% of Scottish respondents they have driven whilst tired or drowsy, and 14% of Scottish respondents admit to driving when emotionally distressed. These issues are known to impair reaction time and decision‑making, causing a danger to yourself, your passengers and others on the road.
I have the greatest confidence that the new technology will have a significant impact to improving road safety and saving more lives – and such technologies can also be brought to the rest of the UK.”
