Road safety drive targets parents

More than 500 people have died on Strathclyde's roads since 2003

Young drivers and their parents are being targeted in a year-long safety campaign designed to cut road deaths.

Strathclyde Police hopes its "Drive 4 Safety" message will help parents to develop their child's driving and road safety awareness.

In the last five years 89 young people, aged between 17 and 25, were killed in crashes on Strathclyde's roads.

More than 800 were also seriously injured with 6,077 suffering from slight injuries.

The campaign will be launched at a one-day seminar in Glasgow on Wednesday.

'Shocking figures'

Chief Inspector, David Kilcullen, said: "The number of young people being killed and injured on our roads is something that cannot be ignored.

"In the last five years in the Strathclyde Police area 334 people have been murdered - this is a tragedy and one murder is too many.

"However, in that same period of time 502 people lost their lives on the roads.

"These are shocking figures and unfortunately it's young drivers who are most at risk."

Director of Road Safety Scotland, Michael McDonnell, will also attend the launch.

He said: "Many parents are not aware of the importance of their role in teaching their sons and daughters how to drive.

"That's a role which is not restricted to the few months before they sit their driving test but, rather, begins from a very young age, when their children start to watch what their parents do, and how they behave when behind the wheel.

"This event provides a perfect opportunity for parents to realise the importance of this role and what they can do to help."