Several Scottish-based BVRLA rental members have joined Police Scotland and Road Safety Scotland to launch a campaign reminding motorists to ‘Drive on the Left’ when visiting Scotland.
The campaign hopes to go some way towards reducing accidents on Scottish roads caused by people driving on the wrong side of the road.
Last year’s records shown that ‘inexperience of driving on the left’ was a contributory factor in 65 accidents and several serious collisions, so the campaign has been launched ahead of the peak tourist season in Scotland.
A new look ‘Driving in Scotland’ information leaflet will be distributed when picking up a hire car and an electronic version will also be issued at the time of booking. In addition, ‘Drive on the Left’ wristbands, available in nine different languages, (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Hindi, Japanese and Chinese) and in-car stickers, will be distributed via car rental companies to remind and prompt visitors to keep left.
Road Safety Scotland thanked BVRLA members: “We are indebted to the support of the BVRLA and the companies who came together to bring the campaign forward: Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental, Avis Budget, Enterprise, Europcar and Hertz.”
BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said: “This is a great road safety initiative and we are delighted to see so many of our members getting behind it. With over a third of the UK’s 11 million annual car hire transactions coming from people needing a car whilst away from home, our members are ideally placed to promote the campaign to visitors before they set off on Scottish roads. We hope that the distribution of leaflets, wristbands and stickers will go some way towards reducing the number of accidents caused by overseas visitors driving on the wrong side of the road.”
