Number of accidents involving emergency vehicles a serious concern

10/3/08

Margaret Smith MSP has raised concerns over the number of accidents in recent years which have involved emergency services vehicles. In response to a Parliamentary Question tabled by the Edinburgh West MSP, it was revealed that nine people have been killed and 55 seriously injured in accidents involving so-called ‘blue light’ vehicles in the past five years.

Commenting, Mrs Smith said, “I recognise the difficulty of the jobs done by emergency services personnel and that blue light vehicles often travel fast because they are trying to save lives. However, the fact that emergency service vehicles are the involved in so many accidents and fatalities is extremely concerning.

“These figures indicate that we need a serious look at what can be done to reduce the number of accidents that they are involved in. I have written to both the Justice Secretary and the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, calling for a review of the procedures used by emergency service vehicles to look into how accidents can be minimised.”