[Scottish Parliament, 14.06.2024] Highlands and Islands MSP and Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Islands Jamie Halcro Johnston questioned the Scottish Government on road safety across the Highlands and Islands in today’s Portfolio Questions on Net Zero and Energy, and Transport in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Halcro Johnston asked the following question and supplementary question:
QUESTION: To ask the Scottish Government how it is informing tourists and other visitors of how to use roads across the Highlands and Islands safely.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION: The summer months see an increase in visitors using either roads or vehicles they’re unfamiliar with.
The potential from tourists – and others unfamiliar with the road - using the A9 are well known. But across the Highlands and Islands, we see a proliferation of motor homes, many driven by people with no experience of driving one before, nor of the often difficult, and too often, pothole ridden roads they’re driving on.
And in Orkney and Shetland, there has been an increase in visitors touring our islands on ebikes provided by the cruise ships they’ve just come off. Many won’t have ridden one before, and they’re using roads simply not suitable for large – slow moving - groups of cyclists who can be more focused on the scenery than the road and other traffic. Something I’ve seen for myself.
So can I ask the Cabinet Secretary/Minister what concerns she/he has of the potential risks these situations are creating. And how the Scottish Government can support the Police and local councils in addressing them?
Speaking afterwards, Mr Halcro Johnston said:
“I doubt anyone who has driven in the Highlands recently will be oblivious to the proliferation of hired motorhomes on our roads.
“But what is particularly worrying is that many of these will be driven by people with no experience of driving one before, nor of the often difficult - and too often, pothole ridden - roads they’re driving on.
“When I was on Skye only a few weeks ago, I spent a considerable amount of time stuck behind a motorhome which spent most of the time being driven down the centre of the road, forcing cars and lorries to the side. And that is not an isolated incident.
“And so I am disappointed that the Cabinet Secretary was not able to lay out in more detail how SNP ministers in Edinburgh are addressing what is a growing problem for rural Scotland.
“Local people are already poorly served by our roads network and its worsening state, and additional challenges such as inexperienced drivers in hired motorhomes are just another challenge they are forced to face, particularly over the summer months.
“Local communities across the Highlands deserve better from a Scottish Scottish Government that seems to be ignoring the issue”.
Mr Halcro Johnston confirmed he would be writing to Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop for a more detailed response.
ENDS
Notes to editor
The video recording of Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP’s question is available here: https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meeting-of-the-parliament-continued-june-13-2024?clip_start=14:20:30&clip_end=14:23:14
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