Authorities step up action on speeding as figures link one-in-five road deaths to driving law

The latest initiative, led by Road Safety Scotland, comes as official figures show that 363 people were killed or injured on Fife's roads in 2024.

Authorities warned that enforcement activity will be supported by high-profile public messaging designed to challenge complacency among drivers who believe "a few miles per hour" makes little difference.

In reality, evidence suggests the opposite, with research highlighted by the campaign showing that fatal collisions involving drivers travelling at 65mph could be halved if speeds were reduced by just 5mph.

The campaign is closely aligned with the Scottish Government's long-standing "Go Safe on Scotland's Roads – It's Everyone's Responsibility" framework, which sets out national casualty-reduction goals and places responsibility not just on enforcement agencies, but on every road user.

Under this strategy, it makes clear that reducing deaths and serious injuries depends on a combination of education, enforcement, engineering and personal accountability, rather than awareness campaigns alone.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP said speeding remains one of the most significant and avoidable risks on Scotland's roads.

She said: "No matter how experienced you are as a driver, collisions can happen to anyone. We know that speeding makes collisions more likely and more serious, and no one should die or be seriously injured on our roads.

"You only have to lose control once, and the consequences can be devastating. We're urging drivers to make our roads safer for everyone by reducing their speed."

The crackdown is particularly focused on non-built-up and rural roads, where higher speeds dramatically increase the likelihood of fatal outcomes.

While 42 per cent of reported casualties occur on rural roads, they account for almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of road deaths in Scotland.

Emergency services said those figures reflect what crews see first-hand.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has endorsed the campaign, with senior officers warning that speeding collisions often leave devastation far beyond the driver involved.

Kenny Barbour, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer at the SFRS, said: "Driving at speed not only places the driver and any passengers at risk, but everyone else on the road, particularly pedestrians and cyclists.

"Sadly, many of our crews have responded to road traffic collisions, and they witness the devastating aftermath.

"We always urge drivers to stick to speed limits and to drive according to road and weather conditions to help keep themselves and others safe."

The campaign will run alongside enforcement activity across television, cinema, radio and digital platforms, with a central TV advert recreating the split-second moments before a collision from a driver's point of view.

Officials hope the stark portrayal will reinforce the consequences of ignoring speed limits.

Under the national Go Safe framework, the Scottish Government has committed to long-term reductions in deaths and serious injuries.

Critics have previously questioned whether messaging campaigns alone can change behaviour, but ministers argue that combining enforcement with targeted public awareness is essential to shifting attitudes around speed.

As the crackdown intensifies, drivers across Fife are being urged to take heed of the warnings — and to remember that slowing down, even slightly, could mean the difference between life and death.