- Petition already has 2,000 signatures and the support of rally driver, Alister McRae –
WEST FM is calling on the public to support a campaign for speed cameras to be installed on a stretch of the A77 outside Ayr, following the tragic death of 59 year-old Joan Price.
The campaign, known as Joan’s Legacy, is in memory of the Troon mum who was tragically killed in a car crash on the A77 in Ayr on the 30th of January 2017. The collision was caused by two teenagers who had been racing, clocking up speeds of up to 140mph. One of the drivers lost control, colliding head on with Joan’s car, killing her instantly and leaving her passenger, 40 year-old Gillian Kay from Monkton, with life-changing injuries.
In a bid to prevent further tragedy, West FM’s Natasha Reid has launched a petition which has already attracted 2,000 signatures and received the support from Joan’s husband, Colin Price, and crash-survivor, Gillian.
The A77 was the first road in Scotland to be equipped with average speed cameras but the stretch of road between the Whitletts roundabout and the Bankfield roundabout is the only section not to have cameras, making it a notorious spot for speeding.
Colin Price said: “I am certain that the two boys wouldn’t have been driving the way they were if they thought they might have been caught on camera that night. I am 100 per cent sure if there were speed cameras on that road, Joan would still be here.”
The campaign is gathering pace, with support from one of Scotland’s most famous racing drivers, Alister McRae, local MSP Brian Whittle, the South Ayrshire Police and leading road safety charity, Brake.
Alister McRae, who has competed in nearly 80 world rally championships and is son of five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae, said: “The most important thing about rallying and racing is that it is done in a controlled environment. The main road is not somewhere you want to be going faster than the speed limit, putting yourself or others at risk.”
Chief Inspector Gary I’Anson, from South Ayrshire Police, has also spoken out following the launch of the campaign. He said: “It only takes one tragic incident like this to have real, widespread consequences. I certainly would be very supportive of any form of road engineering such as average speed cameras or anything that could be here all the time to help make this road safer.”
Dave Nichol, Community Engagement manager at Brake, said: “We know only too well the heartache and sadness caused by these road crashes. We know that speed cameras are a cost effective and evidence proven way to reduce speeds on our roads and we would really encourage anyone to support this campaign in memory of Joan to make sure that others don’t have to go through the trauma that her family has.
Lorraine Herbison, head of News and Sport for Bauer Media Scotland said: “We are urging people to take notice of this campaign and sign the petition. The tragic death of Joan Price and the devastation caused to family and friends could have been so easily avoided. Action must be taken to make this road safer.”
The petition will be handed to Scottish Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf. To sign the petition and back this campaign simply visit WestFM.co.uk for more information.
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