Road Safety Event - the "Fatal Five"

Orkney-born Sergeant David Miller is based in Dingwall with the Highland and Islands Road Policing Unit so he has witnessed many horrific – and tragically preventable – deaths on the country’s roads.

“I don’t keep a count of the number of serious and fatal collisions I have attended but that total would be well into 3 figures. Every single collision is unique, whether that be in respect of the circumstances surrounding it or the physical and emotional damage it leaves behind.

“The striking thing for me is that anybody could be involved in a fatal or serious collision during their day to day lives, it doesn’t discriminate. Unfortunately, I’ve dealt with fatalities of all ages, including young children, with people from all types of background. 

“However there is one inescapable fact – there is always, and I emphasise always, a cause. More often than not, these causes can be broken down to ‘the fatal five’:

• dangerous/Careless Driving
• speeding
• seatbelt Offences
• mobile phone offences
• drink and drug driving

“Time and time again, I attend the scenes of fatal collisions and usually one of these five points have been determined to be the main causation factor. The effect these actions can have are catastrophic. Every single piece of road traffic legislation has been introduced for a reason, safety.”

Although the Sergeant, who carries out the roles of Reporting Officer and Senior Investigating Officer at serious and fatal collisions with the unit, tries to keep his work and personal life separate – at times that can challenging.

“Every so often when I’m walking with my kids a car might go past doing something wrong - for example with a driver texting on their phone and swerving across the carriageway. That’s when I feel it - frustration and anger at how selfish and arrogant people can be, with the sheer ignorance at the potential impact this action could have.

“People may think that sounds ridiculous, but there is a relatively slim line between what some people think is a minor road traffic offence and a fatality. Like my previous example, if you drive whilst texting on a mobile phone, all it could take is failing to spot and collide with a pedestrian on a road and then potentially you could be looking at causing death by dangerous driving. The difference between the punishments are vast; 6 points and a £200 fine if you’re caught and given a ticket, or a maximum of 14 years’ imprisonment if you’re convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. 

“You have a choice and a responsibility for your actions whilst driving, but you have no choice if it goes wrong. Let me assure you - when it goes wrong, it goes horrifically wrong and there is no turning back.”

The Scottish Government has set a target of zero road deaths by 2050, he continued.

“This would be an incredible achievement but can only happen if everyone plays their part when it comes to basic road safety. I will hopefully be retired by 2050 and by then, I hope the images of what I have witnessed will have left me.

“However, what will remain with me forever is the reactions of those bereaved families who I’ve dealt with. It’s torturous and heartbreakingly painful.”

A Road Safety Event is being held at Broad Street, Kirkwall on Saturday 2 July starting at 9.30am.