'More must be done': Families demand further road safety measures after boy killed by lorry

Safety provisions have been put in place on a busy Edinburgh road where an 11-year-old boy died after being struck by a bin lorry.

Cramond Primary School pupil Thomas Wong died in August 2024 at the exit of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society car park on Whitehouse Road after being hit by a Scania HGV driven by 28-year-old Ross Wallace.

Road markings, signage and improved pavements are among changes brought in to make the roads safer for children walking to and from school.

But parents say more must be done to improve road safety.

Ailsa White, a member of the parent-teacher council, told STV News: “The new measures are a step in the right direction, but I think there is also more required around the school to make it safe.

“I do think there are a lot of issues in the immediate vicinity and further along. At the pedestrian crossing on Queensferry Road, cars routinely go through red lights.

“Do we have to wait for another fatality?”

Thomas Wong, 11, was hit by the Scania HGV as he made his way to primary school at around 8.30am on March 1 last year. Police Scotland

Linda Clarke, another member, said: “It’s great for pedestrians and cyclists, but there is a lot of traffic through the area and we need to think about how to mitigate that.

“You teach children that even when crossing the road on a green man, you still check – but ultimately, adults have to take responsibility.”

Following Thomas’s death, the council has introduced several safety measures at the golf club exit.

A prominent white bar and text reading ‘STOP’ has been painted on the ground at the exit, as well as a yellow box on the junction.

Additionally, shrubbery around the exit has been trimmed back, opening sight lines from the golf club to the street, and illuminated stop signs have been added.

Bollards, kerb build outs and tactile paving have also been added around the exit, with the build outs shortening the distance required to cross the exit.

New road markings to improve safety STV News

Council documents indicate that these interventions have been effective, though further improvements are under consideration. Proposed measures include reducing the Whitehouse Road speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph and creating a dedicated cycle route across the Barnton junction and along Whitehouse Road.

Relatives picking up children from Cramond Primary School have welcomed the changes.

A local grandfather said: “You can’t be too careful with young children involved. If it makes the journey safe for my grandson and other kids, that’s good.

One mum said: “There are kids who walk along the road to school and back. It’s important to have safety provisions put in place to avoid any further mishaps – it’s nice to know that they are acting proactively.”

Councillor Kevin Lang said he was “utterly heartbroken” when he learned of Thomas Wong’s death.

New signage has been installed in the area STV News

“Like everyone in Cramond, to lose any of our community is awful, but for it to happen to a 11-year-old boy as he was on his way to school is devastating.

“We want to do everything we could to make sure something like this would never happen again.”

Lang said he supports the improvements made so far but believes more must be done.

“It’s good to see practical changes like improved signage and pavement upgrades, but we need to go further,” he said.

“Reducing the speed limit and adding segregated cycle lanes will make it safer for people. We’ve heard from many parents the frustration that the plans only go so far; so it’s important the council responds quickly to community feedback.”

Thomas was struck by a lorry at the exit to the golf club STV News

Ross Wallace pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention in July 2025. In August, he was sentenced to 133 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for a year. Court reports noted that Wallace had used his mobile phone earlier in the day, though it did not contribute to the collision.

Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Following this tragic incident, we’ve taken significant steps to improve safety on Whitehouse Road.

“We’ll continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures and see if any others are appropriate.

“Road safety remains a key priority for us. Under our Road Safety Delivery Plan we earmarked over £6m of investment in this financial year alone. This programme, alongside our design guidance, active travel projects and wider City Mobility Plan are all working towards our collective goal of making our city a safer, more sustainable, and accessible place for all.”