Scots drivers caught for offences on pedestrian crossings plummet as police cuts blamed

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The number of drivers caught for offences on pedestrian crossings has collapsed in the past 10 years, figures obtained by the Sunday Mail have revealed.The areas protected by zigzag lines should be safe havens for pedestrians and the disabled.But statistics show that tickets have plunged by 87 per cent in Scotland since 2013.Falling levels of police resources are being blamed.In some areas, the figure is down by 99 per cent.At the same time, figures from the Scottish Government show pedestrian road casualties rose by 18 per cent last year.David Threadgold, of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “There is a Police Scotland recruitment freeze in place until April 2024.

We expect officer numbers to drop below 16,000 by then.“Due to pressures imposed by other policing functions, pedestrian crossing violations are so low down the priority list, they don’t merit consideration.” Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Police extracted recorded data over the past 10 years.The most striking drop was in Inverclyde, which fell from 176 offences in 2013 to one this year – a reduction of 99 per cent.It is illegal to drive through a pedestrian crossing when the green man is showing.You must not overtake a vehicle which has stopped to allow someone to cross.And £100 fines and three penalty points can be issued to someone who parks on zigzag lines.A police spokesperson said: “Contravening methods to keep pedestrians safe is a serious road traffic offence.

Where reported, we will investigate and take appropriate action.” Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.