Transport Scotland announces A9 speed camera plans

Date: 29/7/2013

A new average speed camera system will be installed by Transport Scotland to improve safety.

Running from Dunblane to Inverness, the A9 scheme will aim to reduce the numbers of road users who are abusing the highway by driving too quickly.

Keith Brown, the Scottish Transport Minister, visited a spot along the route last Friday (July 26th) to assess one of the areas that will benefit from responsible motoring practices expected to follow the implementation of the average speed camera system.

"The A9 is one of Scotland's most important routes, linking Inverness to the rest of the country, and it is extremely important that it is as safe as possible for all road users. The A9 Safety Group has recommended that an average speed camera system is introduced to help cut down on the number of accidents and Transport Scotland will now take this forward," he added.

More than £50 million has already been invested in structural and safety programmes along the highway, with more consistent signage and better geometry among the improvements installed by the devolved government.

It is expected the first of the new average speed cameras will be fully operational by Summer 2014, although previous transport schemes in the nation have been beset by delays and other problems.

Edinburgh's new tram system is among the most well known projects that have been the victim of poor management, with the network delayed by a number of years at a huge cost to taxpayers.

However, Superintendent Iain Murray from Police Scotland is more optimistic and said the announcement from Transport Scotland will reduce the concerns of a large number of people who had made their problems with speeding traffic well known to law enforcement agencies in the last few years.

Superintendent Murray reassured road users that, in the meantime, patrols will still do all they can to mitigate the effects of dangerous driving until the Summer 2014 start date.

Posted by Sarah Bailey
 
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