A new report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland notes that since 2020, the total number of people killed or injured on Scottish roads has increased every year.

In 2023, 155 people were killed and 1,930 were seriously injured.

So far, the number of road deaths for 2024 is already 26 percent higher than the same period last year.

A reduction in police activity targeting the most common causes of fatal crashes has been identified as a key factor affecting Police Scotland’s ability to keep people safe on the country’s roads.

The HMICS report says police officers who carry out enforcement activities to detect crimes, including speeding and driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs, can help reduce tragedies on the roads. Scottish roads.

Traffic police officers also play a crucial role in the fight against serious, organized crime.

However, since Police Scotland was established in April 2013, the latest data shows there has been a 63 per cent drop in the number of traffic offenses detected and recorded.

HM Police Scotland’s Chief Inspector, Mr Craig Naylor, has called on Police Scotland to review its commitment to road policing.

Mr Naylor said: “It has now sadly become an all too common occurrence to hear of yet another death on Scottish roads.

“It seems that society accepts such tragedies, but this is completely unacceptable and almost all deaths are preventable.

“The recent increase in road fatalities is complex and there is no single factor driving this trend.

“However, we are concerned that at a time when casualty numbers are increasing, Police Scotland has reduced rather than increased its enforcement activities in this high priority area.”

The HMICS report, A Thematic Inspection of Road Policing in Scotland, aimed to assess the condition, effectiveness and efficiency of road policing in Scotland.

The report commends the dedication and professionalism of Scottish Road Police officers.

He said Police Scotland had a good leadership and governance structure when it came to road policing.

And he praised how the force has used social media to good effect to promote key road safety messages.

However, HMICS inspectors said the decline in overall officer numbers was one of the factors impacting Police Scotland’s ability to meet its road safety targets.

Latest figures show the number of officers fell from 17,431 in March 2020 to 16,425 in October this year.

Road policing officers currently make up 3.5 per cent of the police force in Scotland.

The HMICS report said that as the number of officers fell, so did the visibility of specialist and local police officers responsible for road safety and road crime.

Competing priorities – including the increasing role of the police in caring for people with mental health problems – have further limited any opportunity for proactive traffic policing functions.

The report states: “This reduction in visibility will inevitably lead to a reduction in the public’s fear of being caught, which, in turn, is likely to lead to an increase in the type of activity and behavior of drivers who drive to serious and fatal road collisions. .”

HMICS inspectors said they were aware of a recent proposal from senior management in Police Scotland’s Road Policing Division to change the team structure of its officers, due to staff reductions in the unit.

He said the proposal – currently on hold – would see highway policing officers focus solely on day and night shifts, rather than attempting to adhere to a 24-hour staffing model.

The report said: “Given the importance of detecting and disrupting criminals using the roads, we consider that any review of roads policing by Police Scotland should take into account its ability to provide resources and properly police – 24/7 – roads and highways. networks that connect major cities, towns, airports and ports across Scotland.

The Chief Inspector of Her Majesty’s Scottish Constabulary has called for urgent action to address the backlog in specialist training for road policing officers and advanced driver training for other officers.

He also urged Police Scotland to make it easy for the public to report road traffic offenses by directly uploading video clips.

Mr Naylor said: “As part of our review, we visited police forces in Surrey, Sussex and the West Midlands and identified best practice for making optimal use of intelligence, analysis and technology.

“In our report we have highlighted two specific examples which we found during these visits which I believe should be developed and implemented in Scotland.

“First, the provision of training courses as an alternative to prosecution.

“Secondly, means for members of the public to directly upload travel camera footage to report traffic violations.”

The HMICS report states that Police Scotland is currently considering the introduction of a national dash cam portal, which will offer the public the ability to upload footage.

However, rather than being able to directly upload video of an incident, they will have to first report it to the police, who will then send them a link to forward the footage.

Mr Naylor said: “While this is a step in the right direction, we view the requirement to call the police before images can be uploaded as an unnecessary extra step.

“This neither makes it easier for the public to report traffic offenses nor does it expand enforcement opportunities by essentially allowing them to become the ‘eyes’ of the police.”

The HMICS report said that when it came to alternatives to prosecution, Police Scotland was the only UK police force not to offer courses under the National Offender Driver Retraining Scheme.

The program offers courses on topics such as highway driving awareness, speed awareness and seat belt use.

The report makes 13 recommendations for improvement to Police Scotland, including that it should engage with its criminal justice partners to explore ways that officers can spend less time in court, such as virtual appearances.

He said Police Scotland should work with the Scottish Government on a legislative change that would allow the escorting of abnormal loads in Scotland to be carried out by an agency other than the police.

He urged Police Scotland to review its policy position and the training and equipment provided to local police officers responding to incidents on fast road networks.

And he called on the Scottish National Force to adopt best practice in the deployment and use of the automatic number plate recognition system.

Mr Naylor added: “This is an exceptionally difficult time for public services across the UK. The Scottish Police are no exception.

“However, the reduction in focus on road policing raises questions about the contribution of Police Scotland, both in reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on Scottish roads and in supporting the aims of the road safety framework for 2030.”

John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then has worked for the North Edinburgh News, the Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and the Edinburgh Reporter. Additionally, it has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.