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Lumsden slams ‘death trap’ A96 after new report reveals high risk locations on route





Six out of the 10 most dangerous locations for safety on the trunk road network have been identified on the A96, a report to Transport Scotland has showed.

In its Annual Road Safety Review 2024/25, operator Amey has urged Scotland’s roads chiefs to make improvements at north-east blackspots, including the Blackburn and Inverurie roundabouts on the A96 in Aberdeenshire.

North East Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden.
North East Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden.

In Moray, the A96 south of the Keith bends and east of Hardmuir also featured in the 10 “riskiest” locations.

The findings come after the Scottish Government abandoned its commitment to make the A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness fully dual carriageway by 2030, despite there being 14 deaths on the road in the last five years.

Scottish Conservative North East MSP Douglas Lumsden said: “It’s no surprise six out of the 10 ‘high risk’ locations for road safety in the north-east are on the A96, which is a death trap in its current state.

“The SNP government’s reluctance to upgrade the A96 is a betrayal to the families whose loved ones have tragically died or suffered injuries on the road.

“One death or injury is one too many and it’s clear the A96 remains one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland.

“Not only that, but north-east residents also have to contend with the dangers of the A90 Toll of Birness and Cortes junctions on a daily basis, which the SNP government continues to shamefully ignore.

“These findings should be a wake-up call for the Scottish Government, which has neglected our North East road network for far too long.”

In its report on the north-east’s danger areas, Amey said: “Five proactive measures such as carriageway resurfacing, dotted profile markings, vehicle restraint systems, solar studs and the introduction (or widening) of carriageway hard strips are tangible interventions that can be introduced at higher risk sites in order to reduce the risk factor and increase road safety.

“However, the longer-term objective may be to realign the carriageway which is likely to require third party land, be more complex and expensive.”


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