SCOTLAND'S most senior police officer has pledged to do more to improve road safety in light of a surge in offences.

A "significant" increase in the number of road safety offences was recorded in the first six months of the new single force, compared with the same period last year, new figures reveal.

The offences include 52,171 of speeding, 25,451 of seat-belt misuse and 20,440 of mobile phone use, Police Scotland said.

Addressing the Road Safety Scotland annual seminar in Edinburgh, Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House said road safety was one of the priorities raised by local communities.

"Evidence has shown that regular risky and illegal drivers do not acknowledge the risk they present, or view their own actions as illegal or having any real social impact," he said.

"A recent study stated that almost three-quarters of all drivers admitted to risky driving behaviour in the last 12 months and more than half of those admitted to illegal behaviour in relation to speeding, mobile phones and seat-belt use.

"There is a common perception among offenders that offences are committed by others, but not by themselves. Our job is to challenge these perceptions."

The force will continue to build a trunk roads patrol group throughout the country, Sir Stephen said.

"By providing a more visible, dedicated resource across our national and local roads networks, we can help deter and detect poor driver behaviour," he added.