Crash survivors restart 'keep left' driving campaign

Sharon Anslow founded the Keep Left campaign after she was freed from this wreckage - she was trying to avoid a car on the wrong side of the road

Crash survivors are among people on Skye relaunching the island's Keep Left road safety campaign aimed at international visitors.

It was started five years ago by Sharon Anslow after she was injured trying to avoid a car on the wrong side of the road while she drove to work.

The campaign was wound down during the Covid pandemic - which hit overseas tourism - but islanders say visitor numbers have started to recover.

Supporters include Sarah Archer, who needed to use a wheelchair for seven months after she was badly injured in a head-on collision last year.

Sarah Archer still needs surgery following her crash last July

Transport Scotland says overseas drivers are provided with as much information as possible - but campaigners have called for more signs and markings on Skye's roads.

A petition has also started calling for improved mobile phone coverage to tackle issues contacting emergency services in some accidents.

Previously, the campaign distributed stickers for the steering wheels of hire cars and wrist bands with the "keep left" message for drivers.

Ms Archer's crash happened on a bend in a road last July.

She said: "It's been life altering.

"I had two broken knees. I was in a wheelchair for about seven months and I still have multiple surgeries coming up as well."

The other driver was convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Ms Archer said there were problems raising the alarm after her crash.

She said: "There were four different people trying to phone it in.

"Everyone was walking down the road or further up the road, trying to get through to connect the emergency service call. In the end two people succeeded."

She added: "Five minutes could be life or death in worse case scenarios.

"For me I think it was 20-25 minutes it took for the help to arrive, but it felt like a lifetime."

Kids' presents 'thrown from car'

Sharon Anslow's crash in December 2018 saw her car end up in a ditch by the side of the road.

She was freed from the wreckage by firefighters and suffered bruising and a sprained ankle in the crash.

The other driver received a fixed penalty notice following the accident.

Ms Anslow said: "Both cars were completely written off.

"Ambulances, police, fire brigade and the air ambulance were all in attendance - it was carnage.

"I had all the kids' Christmas presents in the boot from seeing my brother the day before.

"They were all thrown from the car along with the kids' car seats. Thank goodness they weren’t travelling with me."

The scene of campaign founder Sharon Anslow's crash in 2018

Ms Anslow said she had been sent reports and dashcam footage of recent near misses.

She said: "It’s terrifying, I can’t watch them, it’s a huge trigger for me.

"I had to move because I couldn’t do the commute to work every day past the accident spot. It’s changed my life completely."

Ms Anslow added: "I’ve been lucky enough to find some great people to come on board with me to restart the Keep Left campaign."

Skye campaigners (left to right) Sarah Archer, Dana Campbell, Sharon Anslow and Innes Watson

Transport Scotland is part of Road Safety Scotland, which has a Drive on the left campaign.

A spokesperson said: “We know drivers from overseas may not be used to driving on the left or be unfamiliar with the road layout, but we still want them to visit and enjoy Scotland.

"We have made a considerable effort, working with the British Vehicle and Rental and Leasing Agency, VisitScotland, Police Scotland and other partners to ensure we provide as much information as possible."

Road Safety Scotland said it produced wristbands and leaflets in a number of languages, as well as a window sticker to remind drivers of the correct approach at junctions.

The spokesperson said the information was available at airports, on ferries, at car rental venues, tourist spots and VisitScotland centres.