A NEW road safety campaign has been launched to warn drivers about the dangers of overtaking on the notorious A9.
Motorists on Scotland's longest trunk road, which stretches 138 miles from Dunblane to Thurso, are being urged to think before pulling out.
The campaign, backed by the A9 Safety Group, is the first in a series of targeted efforts from the Scottish Government to raise awareness of road safety issues on the A9 ahead of dualling of the route, which is due to complete by 2025.
The road is responsible for more fatal crashes than any other in Scotland, claiming the lives of 58 people between 2008-2012.
More than 40% of fatal accidents on single carriageway sections of the A9 involved overtaking.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "Road users tell us that they are concerned about the number of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres that they see on the route and the aim of this campaign is to give drivers the knowledge to overtake safely, without putting their lives or those of fellow road users at risk."
Head of Road Policing at Police Scotland, Superintendent Iain Murray, added: "Overtaking is inherently risky.
"Sadly this year we have had occasions on the roads in Scotland where overtaking manoeuvres have ended in tragedy so the simple rule must be 'if in doubt, don't risk it'."
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