GLASGOW'S older citizens are being warned that they are at the greatest risk of harm on the city's roads.

New scheme launched as figures show half of city road deaths involve over-65s

GLASGOW'S older citizens are being warned that they are at the greatest risk of harm on the city's roads. As a major campaign is launched to keep the city's OAPs safe as they get out and about, shocking statistics revealed by Glasgow City Council show half of road deaths in the city last year involved people aged 65 or older.

In recent years, 18 older pedestrians have been killed on Glasgow's roads, while a further 250 were injured. And many of the accidents have taken place just yards away from safe crossing points.

Last year, half of all pedestrian fatalities were older people - and the eight killed in 2007 equalled the total of all age groups for some years.

Just two weeks ago a 73-year-old woman became the latest victim of a road accident, when she was hit by a bus as she crossed the Gallowgate close to St Mungo's Academy. She died in hospital a short time later.

Now Glasgow City Council and its partners have launched the Go Safe Glasgow initiative - and have taken to the streets to alert older pedestrians and drivers of all ages to the alarmingly high accident toll among the city's senior citizens.

With darker evenings now upon us, the scheme aims to save lives in areas where accidents involving older people have taken place.

The Go Safe Glasgow campaign brings together Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, who will work in partnership for the first time in an effort to cut accidents and casualties.

The campaign will target key safety themes throughout the year by offering educational events and practical advice within communities.

The latest initiative kicked off in Drumchapel - the area where, since 2006, more than a quarter of all fatal accidents involving older people have happened - and in the neighbouring communities of Anniesland, Garscadden and Scotstounhill.

The city council's executive member for land and environmental services, Bailie James McNally, is confident the Go Safe Glasgow campaign can make a difference.

He said: "People are used to seeing road safety messages aimed at drivers and sometimes also at children, but this is a campaign for all road users - and older people are among the most at risk.

"With age, many people experience a deterioration in their vision, hearing and mobility that can make negotiating traffic a major challenge.

"Drivers need to take that into account on city streets - but the pedestrians also need help recognising situations in which they have become vulnerable in their advancing years."

Go Safe is backed by the city's biggest bus operator, First, and buses will display safety messages.

First's commercial director Alex Shearer said: "Safety is always our number one priority, whether it's on the road, on our buses or in our depots.

"We are delighted to support the Go Safe Glasgow campaign, which aim to make city streets safer for everyone who uses them."

Chief Inspector Jim McLaughlin, of Strathclyde Police, said: "Drivers need to be aware of the presence of older people on the road. If there's someone from the senior community looking to cross the road, drivers have got to reduce their speed.

"For drivers it's all about anticipation and awareness.

"On the other hand, for senior members of the community, they have got to realise that they're maybe not as quick as they once were to get across a road. It's a very basic message, but if there's a crossing facility, just use it. Drivers expect people to use crossings and look out for people at crossings."

The campaign partners have increased their presence in the north west of the city, and have spent time talking to older road users about their experiences and concerns.

All the agencies have visited local shopping centres to meet older people, while pupils at Knightswood and Camstradden primaries took part in a Time Traveller project, looking at the changing face of city streets and road safety with the help of their older relatives.

The Baldy Bain Theatre Company also staged performances of a short play, Urban Rodeo, about safety for older road users, alongside presentations by the council's Community Action Team, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and the local road policing team.

Go Safe Glasgow launched in September, and turned the spotlight on speed issues in and around Pollokshields.

A recent survey of city households showed that concerns about road safety were higher than average within the area - with 25% of people rating the issue as either a problem or serious problem.