Low Traffic Corstorphine (LTC) is deeply concerned about the recent spate of road traffic incidents in our area, including a death on St John’s Road and several other alarming  collisions involving drivers and pedestrians. 

These incidents highlight the continued and urgent need for action to reduce road violence and improve safety for all members of our community, especially pedestrians, the most vulnerable road users.

Some of the recent incidents we are aware of include:

  • A collision on St John’s Road on 30th December 2024, involving a car driver and a pedestrian who subsequently tragically died on 3rd January as a result of the collision.
  • A child was hit by a car driver while crossing at the pedestrian crossing on Drum Brae South, on their way home from school on 4th December.
  • A crash into a garden wall on Castle Avenue around 1:30am on 4th January – it is understood that the driver left the scene.
  • A parked car written off after a driver crashed their vehicle into it outside 18 Castle Avenue in August 2024.
  • A parked car and a garden wall were damaged on North Gyle Terrace.
  • A child was hospitalised after a driver mounted the pavement near the Drumbrae roundabout two years ago.
  • A near miss involving a pedestrian at the same Drumbrae roundabout recently, near a pedestrian crossing north of the Chinese Manor restaurant.
  • Every pedestrian refuge along Glasgow Road between Drum Brae roundabout and Maybury has been hit by drivers, some on more than one occasion.
  • A bus shelter on Glasgow Road hit by a driver.
  • Drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel and ignoring red lights are regularly witnessed throughout the area. In one example from 12th December an LTC member witnessed three cars ignoring a red light while a pedestrian pushing a pram was using the crossing.

These are only a small selection of the incidents noted by LTC members. The increase in reported crashes, near misses and property damage indicates an extremely worrying trend that must not be ignored.

We urge the City of Edinburgh Council to take immediate steps to investigate these incidents and implement effective interventions. Specifically, we request the following:

  1. Targeted police patrols to address illegal mobile phone use and those driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
  2. To ensure a commitment by Police Scotland to take seriously and deal with the increasing number of drivers who do not stop at red lights at pedestrian crossings. 
  3. A comprehensive Safety Audit: identify and address high-risk areas in Corstorphine, including St John’s Road, Drumbrae roundabout, Glasgow Road and other sites which have experienced repeated issues.
  4. Implement Traffic-Calming Measures wherever this could mitigate harm to vulnerable road users such as reduced speed limits, enhanced signage, raised crossings and improved traffic light timings.
  5. Community Speed Watch Programmes: Consider introducing trained community volunteers to monitor and deter speeding. Reinstate speed cameras and red light cameras.
  6. Improved Data Reporting: Ensure crash data is accurately recorded, monitored and shared with the public to identify trends and evaluate the impact of safety measures.

The Council’s commitment to Vision Zero, with a target of zero fatalities and serious injuries on Scotland’s roads by 2050, must guide these efforts.

However, we believe immediate action is needed to safeguard the most vulnerable road users in our community.

We stand ready to work with Council officers, local representatives and community members to advocate for these changes and create a safer environment for all. 

Signed

Low Traffic Corstorphine