By Craig Smith

POLICE IN Fife have begun a major road safety campaign with the release of a photograph showing the shocking aftermath of a crash which claimed the lives of three young men earlier this month.

The mangled wreckage of the black Honda Civic, which left the B925 Auchtertool to Kirkcaldy road and crashed into a tree on August 10, simply and starkly underlines why Fife police and their partners are mounting the drive to stop the senseless loss of young lives.

For the next four weeks, the force will be cracking down on drivers who treat urban and rural roads like racetracks, putting not only their lives in danger but those of others.

If any reminder is needed of what the consequences can be, the almost unrecognisable state of the vehicle which carried Ally Caird (21), James Rankin (21) and David Rodger (20)—all of whom died in the incident less than a fortnight ago—should hammer home the message.

Five fatal road accidents where three or more people have died have taken place since 2004, all of which involved male drivers aged under 25.

Indeed, of the 12 people who have died in collisions so far this year, nine had yet to see their 25th birthday.

Chief Inspector Alex Duncan, head of road policing in Fife, made no apologies for what he admits is a campaign clearly designed specifically towards one group within society.

“The figures for accidents with young drivers make grim reading and such shocking statistics demand that positive action is taken to ensure the safety of our neighbourhoods,” he said. “While driver behaviour is generally improving across Fife and the rate of injuries declining, we are not reaching the hard core of young men who think they are above the law.

“We will use all the powers at our disposal to target this group, and anyone else who drives without consideration for themselves and others—whether it is speeding round the streets of our towns or on narrow country roads.”

Police have emphasised that they will use a number of tactics, including the seizure of reckless drivers’ vehicles.

In the past year, more than 100 anti-social behaviour warnings have been issued to drivers in Fife, with 456 handed out in total since the legislation was introduced in 2004.

A further 53 vehicles have been seized and officers will target areas traditionally used for racing, such as Kirkcaldy and Leven Promenades and Bridge Street and Carnegie Drive in Dunfermline.

Mr Duncan admitted that he believes the hard-line approach is needed to educate younger drivers in particular.

“If this means seizing vehicles to get the message across then that is what we will do. If it can prevent someone else from becoming another road death statistic it will have been well worth it.”

The campaign will also see officers cracking down on un-roadworthy vehicles or those being driven without insurance.

Fife police have also urged the public to report instances of bad driving to 0845 600 5702, noting the vehicle’s make, colour and registration number, who is driving if known, and where and when the driving occurred.

The latest triple fatality echoed that of the accident on the A915 Standing Stane Road in March, which claimed the lives of Peter Reilly (22), Brian Wright (17) and Christopher Mallin (17).

Councillor George Kay, chairman of Fife’s police, fire and safety committee, backed the campaign, emphasising that the region could not continue to lose young people in such tragic circumstances. “It is of great concern that this is the second triple fatal accident this year in Fife,” he said.

“My heart goes out to the families of these young men who were killed so needlessly and joined the growing list of young Fifers who have lost their lives in recent times.”

But Mr Kay added, “We have to send a strong message to our young drivers and working in partnership with the police and fire services we will continue to do what we can to push the message of safe driving.”