Scotland’s transport minister Derek Mackay has suggested a roll out of average speed cameras across the devolved nation could be on the cards following the success of a scheme on the A9.
The minister said the A9 scheme had helped public opinion turn a corner after officials believe there to have been only one death on the A9 in the last four months compared with eight in 2014 and nine in 2013 - with a total of 298 drivers caught speeding on the road in 2014 compared to 2,493 in the same period in 2013.
The A9 had been notorious for traffic incidents, prompting calls for action from many campaigners. The 27 cameras measure speed over set distances and cover 80 miles of single-carriageway stretches between Perth and Inverness.
Mr Mackay said: ‘The A9 shows public opinion has changed. The principle is now far better established. There is an important message for the rest of the country. Average speed cameras, if deployed in the right places, can help assist road safety. Extra journey times are a price worth paying for a safer route.’
However critics have argued the dualling of the road would make more of an impact.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Highlands MP Danny Alexander told Herald Scotland: ‘Dualling the A9 is by far the best way to make the A9 safer, something the SNP have utterly failed to do after eight years in power.’
Contracts have already been awarded for dualling the road, with completion expected by 2025.
