Drivers are urged to watch their speed on country roads and help cut the number of deaths.
Some 55% of fatal traffic accidents in Scotland occur in rural areas.
Last year, 755 people were killed or seriously injured whilst driving on country
roads -
Loss of control is the biggest cause of deaths on country roads, frequently associated with driving too fast for the conditions and leaving too little time to react to unpredictable road conditions and hazards.
Minister for Transport and Islands, Derek Mackay, has launched a new safe driving campaign.
Mr Mackay said: “We are committed to achieving safer road travel in Scotland for everyone and clearly we are heading in the right direction.
"However we still have a long way to go, particularly with younger male drivers.
This campaign encourages motorists in Scotland to drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions, particularly on country roads as there is a higher proportion of fatalities in rural areas.
Superintendent Fraser Candlish of Police Scotland said: “We are urging drivers to take extra care on country roads, as you never know what hazards are waiting round the corner or when something unexpected might happen.
“It’s important to drive according to the road conditions as driving even slightly too fast can turn avoidable incidents into serious and ultimately fatal crashes. We hope this new campaign will contribute to a reduction of deaths on Scotland’s roads.”
Scotland rugby player, Stuart Hogg, tragically lost his best friend, Richard Wilkinson, in a crash on a country road in 2009 and is supporting the campaign.
Stuart said: “Losing my best mate Richard will live with me forever and was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through. It could have easily been me and I think about him every day and all of the things he’s missed out on.
“I’m supporting the new campaign to encourage people to take extra care on country roads and I hope I’m doing Richard and his family proud.”
Drivers urged to watch their speed on rural roads
10 October 2015