Eight out of 10 people in Dundee do not think a pedestrian being hit by a car travelling at 30mph would be killed, new research has shown.
Fifty per cent of all collisions at such speeds are fatal, compared to just fewer than one in 10 when cars are travelling at 20mph.
At 40mph there is only a one in 10 chance the pedestrian will survive.
The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland, part of Transport Scotland, carried out the survey as part of a new campaign encouraging drivers to reduce their speeds in built-up areas.
The In Town Slow Down campaign aims to reduce the rising number of pedestrians being killed or seriously injured in collisions. Ninety-five per cent of these accidents occur on roads in built-up areas.
New research shows that the majority (80%) of people in Dundee think a collision with a pedestrian at 30mph would not be fatal, yet pedestrians are seven times as likely to be killed if hit at 30mph than 20mph.
The new campaign is running a hard-hitting advertising campaign that uses eggs to demonstrate how vulnerable pedestrians actually are.
Stencils of the campaign creative will also be displayed in pedestrian entrances to car parks in key city centres.
Scottish Government transport minister Derek Mackay said: “We are committed to achieving safer road travel in Scotland for everyone and this campaign reminds people of the importance of driving at an appropriate speed for the environment and the conditions in built-up areas.
“We know the risks associated with speed, which is why Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 has identified speed as a key priority and includes a variety of measures to tackle the problem.
“Simple mistakes can have serious consequences for both drivers and pedestrians, which is why we’re reminding drivers In Town, Slow Down.”
The survey also found almost a third of drivers in Dundee (30%) admit to rushing through town if they are running late for work or a meeting, while 14% think it is acceptable to rush if they are late picking up their children.
Pedestrians were also questioned as part of the survey and admitted taking risks while walking through town when in a rush. Forty-four per cent say they regularly walk through stationary traffic and 40% admit they walk on the curb or in the road to get past other pedestrians.
Inspector Ray Cuthill, from Police Scotland’s Divisional Road Policing Unit (Tayside), said: “Drivers often encounter a higher number of potential hazards and distractions whilst driving in towns. It is important to drive at a speed appropriate for the environment and conditions