An action plan is to be created to help drive home road safety concerns on the A92 through Fife.
A closed-doors meeting was held after another spate of fatal accidents in recent weeks on the trunk road north of Glenrothes.
Representatives from Transport Scotland, Bear Scotland, police, Fife Council and delegates from Glenrothes, Freuchie, Falkland and Ladybank community councils were among those who attended the meeting, hosted by Glenrothes Area Futures Group (GAFG).
All agreed their continued commitment to improving the A92 and said the recent spate of serious and fatal accidents exacerbated the need for the meeting.
Doubts were also expressed over whether or not the road north of Glenrothes will ever be dualled.
Transport Scotland reminded representatives the full appraisal/strategic review of the A92 in Fife of 2011 had stated any dualling was disproportionate to the need for increased safety.
It said dualling was not a priority of the Scottish Government and no statistics since then proved otherwise.
Various measures have taken place to improve safety and are continuing, the meeting heard, with police saying their regular patrols of the A92 had been stepped up.
Bear Scotland said there was an accident reduction plan with 21 points of improvements covering the years from 2013 to 2015 and this would be forwarded to the GAFG in time for a public meeting, scheduled for March 25.
It said collisions and accidents were chiefly random and normally did not require any major road safety improvement.
Nevertheless, several recent improvements were outlined such as at the Bankhead roundabout and discussions were continuing with Freuchie Community Council about the junctions in that area.
The public were encouraged to contact Bear Scotland about specific concerns.
Fife Council leader David Ross made the case for both a safety and an economic appraisal, especially from the Redhouse roundabout to New Inn.
Mr Ross said: “I thought it was a very positive and constructive meeting. Both communities and the council think there is a strong case for improvements to the A92 on both safety and economic grounds.”
He said Transport Scotland already has a plan but there is not a great deal of awareness of that. It was yet to be circulated.
He added: “In the meantime we have agreed the communities and council should pull together to produce a full list of what we think should be done in the short term and the medium term to improve the road.”
Fife Council head of transport Dr Bob McLellan told the meeting that both Sesplan and Tayplan included the need for A92 upgrading but there was no finance set aside.
All agreed with the chairman of GAFG, Bob Grant, that improvements to the A92 could only be achieved by political will and that the forthcoming public meeting would be vital to this process.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Transport Scotland and our operating companies take the safety of the trunk roads extremely seriously and we are always open to discussions with local communities on this issue.
“More than £19m has been invested in the A92 since 2007 to make sure that the route operates in a safe manner and is well maintained.
“A number of safety improvements have already been put in place and further work is under way, including an assessment of road users through the village of Freuchie.”
GAFG convener Ron Page said: “This was a useful meeting and a good reappraisal of the A92 situation.
“Nevertheless the ‘five hazards’ outlined by the North Glenrothes Community Council some years ago and adopted by the GAFG still remain in spite of Transport and Bear Scotland improvements here and there ie the Balfarg junction, the Cadham junction, the A92 from the Cadham junction to the Balfarg junction, the A92 from the Tullis Russell roundabout to the Preston roundabout, and the A92 north of Glenrothes towards the Tay Bridge.
“This is why we are holding a public meeting in the Lomond Centre on Wednesday March 25 at 7pm.”
Mr Page said he was delighted Fife Council had come on board with its concern for both safety and the economy.
He added: “This we hope can make our case much stronger when we meet MSPs and the Government’s new Minister of Transport.”
Inspector Brenda Sinclair said: “Police Scotland continues to be supportive of road safety measures on the A92.
“We will continue to work with our partners and the community to increase the safety of the A92 and other roads in Fife, and to increasing road safety awareness within our communities.”