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A9 average speed cameras stats due A9 average speed cameras 'have reduced speeding'
(about 2 hours later)
Statistics linked to the setting up of average speed cameras on the A9 are expected to be released later. The number of drivers caught speeding on the A9 has fallen dramatically since average speed cameras were introduced, according to new figures.
The controversial camera system, which stretches from Perth to Inverness, went live in October. The controversial camera system, which stretches from Dunblane to Inverness, went live in October.
Despite critics claiming it would have little effect on safety, it is understood both speeding and accidents are down. Despite critics claiming it would have little effect on safety, the A9 Safety Group said the cameras had a positive influence on driver behaviour.
Opponents of the average speed cameras argued that slow traffic was more of a problem than speed. Opponents argue that the cameras disrupt traffic flow on the road.
It was claimed that slow traffic such as lorries on the sections of the A9 that are not dual carriageway caused driver frustration leading to dangerous overtaking. The A9 Safety Group, which involves Transport Scotland, police and road maintenance companies, said overall speeding was down from about one in three drivers to one in 20.
Government transport experts and the police disagreed and cameras were introduced at 27 locations on sections of single-carriageway between Perth and Inverness. It added that the cameras - which have been introduced at 27 locations between Dunblane and Inverness - had detected 298 vehicles exceeding the speed limit over the first three months.
The road south of Perth to Dunblane is dual carriageway. Police Scotland said 2,493 offences had been recorded over the same period the previous year.
Journey times
The safety group said excessive speeding - where drivers were traced travelling at more than 10mph above the speed limit - had fallen by 97%.
An associated pilot scheme allowing lorries to go at 50mph, which is 10mph faster than the national limit, has helped to reduce journey times, it added.
Average journey times between Perth and Inverness have increased by up to 14 minutes, according to the new report. Journey times were "slightly higher" in December, it said.
Stewart Leggett, chairman of the A9 Safety Group, said the figures from the first three months of the camera scheme and HGV speed limit pilot were "very encouraging".
He said: "Drivers are clearly paying heed and moderating their speed, and we welcome this positive contribution to road safety on the A9.
"All the early findings on speed, journey time and journey time reliability are in line with our predictions, while traffic volumes on the A9 are remaining higher than in 2013, with no evidence of drivers diverting onto other routes.
"The low number of drivers being detected by the cameras and the speed profiles from along the route indicates the early effectiveness of the cameras in improving behaviour.
"But the A9 would be safer still if every driver observed the limits."
'Poor overtaking''Poor overtaking'
The cameras keep watch for any cars breaking the 60mph speed limit on the single carriageway sections. Ch Supt Iain Murray, head of road policing at Police Scotland, said the cameras had influenced driver behaviour.
There is also a pilot scheme allowing lorries to go at 50mph, which is 10mph miles an hour faster than the national limit. Road Safety Scotland and the Road Haulage Association have also welcomed the results.
In the past three months there have been no fatalities on the parts of the A9 covered by the cameras and overall the accident rate is down - as is speeding. Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, told BBC Scotland that he was "very pleased the cameras were working".
Journey times have been increased as expected but with the accident toll cut, closures on the road have been reduced significantly. He said: "It is going to take over 10 years to dual the entire A9 from Perth to Inverness. During that time we did need to do something about the road safety record of that road."
The £3m camera scheme has been installed while work is progressed to upgrade single carriageway stretches of the A9 between Inverness and Perth to dual carriageway.
The Scottish government hopes to upgrade the whole length of the A9 to dual carriageway by 2025.The Scottish government hopes to upgrade the whole length of the A9 to dual carriageway by 2025.
The £3bn project involves the upgrade of 80 miles of single carriageway. The £3bn project involves the upgrade of 80 miles of single carriageway. The road south of Perth is dual carriageway.
A9 facts
The A9 is Scotland's longest road and stretches from the far north Caithness coast to central Scotland.
Upgrading the road between Inverness and Perth involves investment eight times the size of the recently completed M80 scheme.
It will cost £3bn and take until 2025 to complete.
The cameras keep watch for any cars breaking the 60mph speed limit on the single carriageway sections.
In the past three months there have been no fatalities on the parts of the A9 covered by the cameras and overall the accident rate is down.
But the system has attracted strong criticism.
Mike Burns, spokesman for A9 Average Speed Cameras Are Not the Answer, said his group had looked at details of more than 100,000 accidents on the road since 2004.Mike Burns, spokesman for A9 Average Speed Cameras Are Not the Answer, said his group had looked at details of more than 100,000 accidents on the road since 2004.
He said: "Only 2% were determined to be down to speeding and the rest were down to incidents of, for example, foreign drivers being on the wrong side of the road, poor overtaking and right-turn manoeuvres over dual carriageways.He said: "Only 2% were determined to be down to speeding and the rest were down to incidents of, for example, foreign drivers being on the wrong side of the road, poor overtaking and right-turn manoeuvres over dual carriageways.
"If these cameras were such a success, why is the A9 Safety Group now considering shutting right turns to stop right-turn accidents?"If these cameras were such a success, why is the A9 Safety Group now considering shutting right turns to stop right-turn accidents?
"The cameras were meant to be the be all and end all of all accidents, but they simply are not.""The cameras were meant to be the be all and end all of all accidents, but they simply are not."