New Road Safety App Launches For Dumfries and Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway Road Safety Partnership (DGRSP) have officially launched the ‘Travel Safe D&G’ road safety mobile app for the region’s road users.

‘Travel Safe D&G’ has been specifically designed to provide road Dumfries & Galloway users with information that will allow them to make better informed decisions, prior to their journey commencing, and ultimately improve safety on the region’s roads.

Five Main Advantages

There are 5 main advantages associated with the app. These include:

  • Simple, easy to use and navigate, for all ages, central hub for D&G and free to use.
  • App can locate the user to within 3m in an emergency with the use of embedded ‘what 3 words’
  • Users will have access to road fault reporting for all roads in Dumfries and Galloway
  • Allow road users to plan their journey more effectively, allowing them to arrive safely and on time.
  • Access up to date information during adverse weather and poor driving conditions

Through the creation of a mobile road safety and information app, the Dumfries and Galloway Road Safety Partnership are able to collate and signpost information to road users of all types and, those reliant on the road infrastructure that is provided over a large geographical area.

Not only does the application provide information but, its two-way design enables interaction and reporting on road safety defects and other matters from any member of the community.

Where individual organisations or government websites and apps provide invaluable information in their own right, Travel D & G brings these together in a central hub format, specifically aimed at the local area. So, rather than switch between various apps, communication to the road user is streamlined from a national level to a local level.

The use of this app not only enhances local engagement and information to the end user but links with national platforms to provide a better all-round experience.

Rather than replace information platforms that already exist, this will benefit existing sites through further promotion.

Ian Anderson, Station Commander – Scottish Fire & Rescue Service – Dumfries told DGWGO “Dumfries and Galloway Road Safety Partnership is a partnership involving many organisations that have got an invested interest in road safety throughout Dumfries and Galloway. Our main aim is to reduce serious injuries on the roads in our region.”

“One of our partners on the road safety partnership brought it to us about an app. Again that was kind of held back a little bit with COVID but roll on another year and through substantial funding from Scottish Government we now have a road safety app that hopefully will assist the members and the communities of the region.”

Search for ‘Travel D and G’ at your device’s app store

“The app can be downloaded on any mobile phone through iOS which is Apple and also on Android simply go to the store and if you search for ‘Travel Safe D and G’ you’ll be able to download it there or you can go to our Twitter or Facebook pages and you can have a look and download it using the QR code.”

The mobile app will continue to evolve in the coming years. This evolution will be reflective of the user’s needs. As a project team, we strive for continual improvement and collecting information from the user is important.

Free To Download

Sergeant Bob McNay of Police Scotland said “The app’s an easy to use app that can be used by all ages. Free to download and it will enable you to plan your route safely so you can get from A to B as safe as you can do. It allows users to make appropriate decisions on where they’re going, what route to take.”

“It covers all modes of transport from motor vehicles to buses, ferries and it enables you to also have up to date information regarding ongoing instances on the main trunk routes.”

‘Report any road defects’

Sergeant Bob McNay continued “It also enables you to report any road defects that you may come across simply using a signed posting mechanism onboard. It also has the what three words app embedded into it. So, it enables you, if you do come across an emergency on the road, to make the emergency services aware exactly of your location.”

The project has been delivered by personnel from Autolink, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the University of West of Scotland.

The project has been funded by the Scottish Government.