Road Safety
The Scottish Government recognise that in some of the 32 local authority areas, casualty numbers are already so low that targets could be very difficult to achieve and therefore have asked each of the partners to contribute to the targets through joint working and ensuring that they have a joined up approach to road safety rather than translating the national targets directly to local statistics. Moray Council works with Community Planning Partners and Neighbouring Authorities to deliver a range of road safety activities.
For more information and road safety resources please look at Road Safety Scotland’s website or the campaign site.
Road Safety Plans
The current Moray Road Safety Plan to 2030 was approved in June 2024. It introduces a new concept of the Safe System, which is consistent with Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2030.
The safe system puts the responsibility on everyone to make Scotland's roads safer through:
- Safe Road Use
- Safe Vehicles
- Safe Speeds
- Safe Roads and Roadsides
- Post-Crash Response
The previous plans are
- Moray Road Safety Plan 1997-1999 (only availble in paper format)
- Moray Road Safety Plan 2000-2002 (PDF)
- Moray Road Safety Plan 2004-2007 (PDF)
- Moray Road Safety Plan 2008-2010 (PDF)
- Road Safety Plan 2011-2015 (PDF) (joint with Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City)
- Moray Road Safety Plan 2018-2022 (PDF)
Safety Camera Partnership
We are a member of the Scottish Safety Camera Partnership following the restructuring from regional safety camera partnerships. Find out more on the Scottish Safety Camera Programme webpage.
Speed Limits
Changing the speed limit posted on a sign will often have a limited effect on vehicle speeds if the road character does not support the limit signed. Scottish Government Guidance - Setting Local Speed Limits gives guidelines for setting speed limits. Speed limits can only be changed by a legal order following public consultation, so before starting the process community support needs to be demonstrated.
Mirrors
We do not permit mirrors to be placed on the roadside; whilst there is the seemingly obvious suggestion that any visibility is better than no visibility in this instance this is not necessarily the case. The less obvious disadvantages for a mirror are:
- in certain lighting a mirror can reflect light and interfere with a passing drivers visibility
- in winter conditions mirrors can become obscured by frost or snow
- it is difficult to accurately judge vehicle approach speeds in a roadside mirror
- if a mirror is not well aligned or if there is a wide approach it can be difficult to see approaching vehicles when they are further away
- pedestrians and cyclists may not show up well as they are often in the periphery of a mirror
- drivers using mirrors may unreasonably rely on the mirror without using normal caution (driving slowly, listening for traffic)
- if a mirror becomes dirty or damaged they become ineffective
Whilst it seems wrong, a mirror can easily give a false sense of security to drivers by showing what is apparently a clear road even though there is traffic.