'Everyone should be determined to act' following Glasgow road deaths

Patrick Harvie spoke with the Glasgow Times about the concerning number of incidents and how we all need to think about minimising the dangers to ourselves and others.

It comes after we reported yesterday that more lives have tragically been lost on Glasgow’s roads so far this year than last year.

The Glasgow Times has reported on eight people – including two children – who have sadly passed away in 2023.

There has been a decrease in road traffic fatalities over the last three years, but this year has already seen an increase from 2022 – with more than seven months left.

According to Police Scotland data, seven people lost their lives on the city’s roads last year, nine in 2021 and 14 in 2020.

Harvie, of the Scottish Greens, described the number of deaths as “horrific” and added: “It should be concerning to everybody, but we shouldn't just be concerned. We shouldn't just be worried. We should be determined to act.

“We know that road safety has been improving in recent years. The number and the severity of road casualties have gone down over the longer term.

“Every single incident is a tragedy for the people who are affected, but if there's an increase this year, we really need to take that seriously and understand why.”

Earlier this year, Glasgow City Council set up a road safety working group following several fatalities.

During a meeting, councillors were told the road safety team and police visited the locations of four incidents – but found no immediate actions to take.

Harvie said: “I'm pleased that the council are taking this seriously and that there's a good level of focus being brought to this now.

“It's awful because it changes the way it feels just to go out your door and to walk around or to cycle, or to be in your community.

“That’s one of the reasons why these incidents have a much bigger impact because obviously, it has the direct impact on people who are injured or on those families who've lost a loved one, but it impacts on everybody.

“It changes the way it feels for all of us to be in our communities and how safe we feel just going out and about in normal day-to-day life. So that's why we all need to take responsibility for making sure that we address this.

“That means trying to push for investment in safer places to walk, wheel and cycle. It means the city council having ambition to reduce car kilometres.

“It means everybody who's using the roads, whether you're on a bus, on foot, on a bike, or driving a vehicle yourself, thinking about how we can minimise the danger that we're in, but also the danger that we pose to other people.

“We need to make sure that we're fully committed to making the streets of not just Glasgow, but the rest of the country, as safe as they possibly can be.

The friends and family of Emma Newman, who was killed by a lorry in the city centre, were praised by the MSP.

In January, the 22-year-old experienced cyclist was hit by the vehicle at Broomielaw as she was on her way to the Mackintosh School of Architecture.

READ NEXT: Parents' tribute to cyclist Emma Burke Newman killed in Glasgow

Harvie said: “Emma’s friends and family have obviously been deeply affected and bereaved, but they've decided to use that experience to champion the cause of better safety for people who are cycling and walking in the city.

“I spoke to some of them at the Pedal on Parliament event just recently.

Emma's parents (Image: Supplied)

"I know that Emma's parents, although they weren't able to attend that event in person, have been very clear that they want to make sure that this is not a tragic incident that only affects them, but it is a catalyst for change and it's a reminder for all of us that we need to have no tolerance for this kind of danger that people are in.

“I'm pleased that the Scottish Government and the city council are taking a strong and focused reaction to this and trying to make sure that we return to that downward trend of casualties and fatalities on our roads because none of us should accept this as a given.

"It's not a given, it's something that we can continue to reduce and hopefully eliminate.”