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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Drivers 'speed less' in Scotland | Drivers 'speed less' in Scotland |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Motorists in Scotland appear to be getting the message on speeding, according to figures compiled by the publishers of the Philips Road Atlas. | Motorists in Scotland appear to be getting the message on speeding, according to figures compiled by the publishers of the Philips Road Atlas. |
| Research found across Scotland the number of £60 fixed penalty notices issued to drivers caught by speed cameras had fallen by 21%. | Research found across Scotland the number of £60 fixed penalty notices issued to drivers caught by speed cameras had fallen by 21%. |
| The exception was Dumfries and Galloway, which saw the highest amount issued in the UK. | The exception was Dumfries and Galloway, which saw the highest amount issued in the UK. |
| The 21% reduction in fines compared with a 3% fall in England and Wales. | The 21% reduction in fines compared with a 3% fall in England and Wales. |
| The figures indicate the majority of regions in Scotland recorded reduced amounts raised by the notices in 2005/2006. | The figures indicate the majority of regions in Scotland recorded reduced amounts raised by the notices in 2005/2006. |
| The partnership as a whole has welcomed these figures as they have generated a high degree of interest in our road safety campaign Sgt Eric DunionDumfries and Galloway Speed Camera Partnership | The partnership as a whole has welcomed these figures as they have generated a high degree of interest in our road safety campaign Sgt Eric DunionDumfries and Galloway Speed Camera Partnership |
| Dumfries and Galloway, the only exception, saw an equivalent of £6.55 raised for every man, woman and child in the area. This compared with an average of £1.42 per capita in other parts of Scotland. | Dumfries and Galloway, the only exception, saw an equivalent of £6.55 raised for every man, woman and child in the area. This compared with an average of £1.42 per capita in other parts of Scotland. |
| The fines brought in nearly £1m in the region. | The fines brought in nearly £1m in the region. |
| Critics have argued that drivers in Dumfries and Galloway are being targeted and branded the speeding fines a "cash cow". | Critics have argued that drivers in Dumfries and Galloway are being targeted and branded the speeding fines a "cash cow". |
| Stephen Mesquita, who compiled the figures, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "In the case of Dumfries and Galloway, it has a very low population and some very busy roads with people whizzing through so I think it's a bit of an anomaly." | Stephen Mesquita, who compiled the figures, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "In the case of Dumfries and Galloway, it has a very low population and some very busy roads with people whizzing through so I think it's a bit of an anomaly." |
| He attributed the downwards trend in Scotland to a "more realistic attitude" towards how the speed camera operation was run. | He attributed the downwards trend in Scotland to a "more realistic attitude" towards how the speed camera operation was run. |
| "I think there is a greater awareness probably among Scottish police forces that this is an issue that motorists find is very very big on their agendas," he added. | "I think there is a greater awareness probably among Scottish police forces that this is an issue that motorists find is very very big on their agendas," he added. |
| Operators of the Speed Camera partnerships said that a recent survey identified the M74 motorway at Gretna as the "fastest stretch of road in Britain". | Operators of the Speed Camera partnerships said that a recent survey identified the M74 motorway at Gretna as the "fastest stretch of road in Britain". |
| The BBC's Phil Goodlad saw cameras in action on the A74(M) | |
| They said that on roads with average speeds of 72mph, the use of speed cameras and fines were justifiable. | They said that on roads with average speeds of 72mph, the use of speed cameras and fines were justifiable. |
| The project manager for Dumfries and Galloway Safety Camera Partnership, Sgt Eric Dunion, said it welcomed any publicity surrounding the issue of excessive speed. | The project manager for Dumfries and Galloway Safety Camera Partnership, Sgt Eric Dunion, said it welcomed any publicity surrounding the issue of excessive speed. |
| "The partnership as a whole has welcomed these figures as they have generated a high degree of interest in our road safety campaign," he said. | "The partnership as a whole has welcomed these figures as they have generated a high degree of interest in our road safety campaign," he said. |
| "However, it does raise a serious issue in that a large number of motorists are travelling through our region in excess of the permitted speed limit. | "However, it does raise a serious issue in that a large number of motorists are travelling through our region in excess of the permitted speed limit. |
| "Since the start of the year we have had 57 crashes on the three main arterial routes within our region - the A74(M), A75 and A76 - which have resulted in four deaths." | "Since the start of the year we have had 57 crashes on the three main arterial routes within our region - the A74(M), A75 and A76 - which have resulted in four deaths." |
| He said all the agencies in the partnership were committed to reducing those figures through "education, encouragement, engineering and enforcement". | He said all the agencies in the partnership were committed to reducing those figures through "education, encouragement, engineering and enforcement". |