Desperate safety plea after string of fatal crashes on Largs roads
Councillors are calling for better driver awareness after a recent string of fatal crashes on the A760 and A78.
Last updated 30th Nov 2022
Councillors in North Ayrshire are issuing a plea for drivers to be more aware while travelling on roads connected to Largs.
A recent string of accidents has led to multiple fatalities on the A760 between Largs and Kilbirnie, and on the A78 that runs through the centre of Largs.
Safety Plea
It has prompted multiple councillors in North Ayrshire to issue a plea for drivers to be more aware on the roads in an effort to prevent further deaths.
Councillor Todd Ferguson is leading the campaign, and is telling Clyde 1 the advice they are issuing to local drivers or visitors using the roads.
He said: “These accidents are happening more regularly they are becoming more serious, and there has sadly been a number tragic fatalities recently, and we need to try and do something to address that with public awareness.
“All the councillors involved in this safety campaign have been contacted by concerned constituents with regards to these roads.
“We’ve had a cyclist lose his life, a motorcyclist has sadly lost his life, pedestrians down in Seamill, and we’ve had drivers and pedestrians die from crashes on the A78.
“So that’s why we’re encouraging people to be more aware of the conditions, to stick to the speed limit and not take undue risks when overtaking. As well as being conscious of other drivers, not everyone feels comfortable driving at the speed limit, and try be patient.
“It’s better and far easier to get somewhere late, rather than not getting there at all.”
Recent fatalities
As recently as last week, the A760 was the spot of another crash which left one woman seriously injured and three others in hospital.
However, that incident was a lucky escape for those on the road. Others have tragically lost their life in accidents in recent months.
Euan Thomson, 32, was cycling on the road between Kilbirnie and Largs on August 10 when he was killed in a collision involving a white van.
A 52-year-old motorcyclist died in a crash with a car on the A760 on November 6.
A crash between two cars on the A78 between Largs and Greenock on October 15 left a 22-year-old man being treated for serious injuries, while a 59-year-old man was taken to hospital, but later died of his injuries a short time later.
Earlier in the year, on August 11, an elderly pedestrian walking his dog was killed after a crash involving a 73-year-old woman driving a Ford Focus.
Calls for action
In terms of whats next to prevent further deaths, councillors are already engaging with North Ayrshire Council, AMEY and Transport Scotland.
However, Councillor Todd Ferguson told Clyde 1 that action needs to be taken sooner rather than later.
He said: ““I think it really is at the point now, with the amount of people that have lost their life in the last 12 months, something really needs to be done about this.”
“The roads are ruralistic and probably shouldn’t be a 60mph speed limit, but that is the current law.
“But if we can do anything at all to mitigate against people driving at different speeds on different sections, whether that’s traffic cameras or slow down mechanisms on certain bends, I think that would be hugely important.”