Enforcement recommenced on A93 at Drumoak, Aberdeenshire
The flexible deployment has recommenced within the 30mph limit at Drumoak.
Following concerns from residents and at the request of Aberdeenshire Council the North Safety Camera Unit initially carried out mobile enforcement from April – June 2022, this was followed by a speed survey which produced some extremely disappointing results. Over 500 vehicles were travelling at more than double the speed limit with one being recorded at the terrifying high speed of 100mph, 70mph above the limit. This was followed by a second flexible deployment between October and December 2022 and a subsequent speed survey once again produced high figures of motorists not complying with the speed limit, 62.5% of vehicles were travelling in excess of the 30mph limit and the highest recorded speed of 85mph.
Eric Dunion, Manager of Police Scotland’s North Safety Camera Unit, said: "The flexible deployment scheme allows us to enforce at locations of concern for an initial three months, with the aim of improving driver behaviour by encouraging motorists to slow down and drive within the speed limit in areas where there are other road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Unfortunately our previous flexible deployments have not had this affect and therefore we feel it is appropriate to attend for a further period of time. We have recently been to Drumoak and added wheelie bin stickers as an additional visual reminder to motorists. We will continue to work with the local authority to also look at other ways to educate motorists and remind them of the 30mph limit.”
Andrew Wilkinson, Principal Road Safety Engineer at Aberdeenshire Council said:
“We welcome the continued support that the North Safety Camera Unit are providing through their flexible deployment programme in Drumoak. It is however disappointing that, despite previous mobile enforcement taking place, there are still a high number of drivers who are travelling at excessive speeds. This behaviour not only presents risk to the driver but to other road users. Travelling at higher speeds results in drivers having less time to identify and react to what is happening around them. If there is a crash, the outcome is more severe, causing greater injury to the vehicle occupants and particularly, to any vulnerable road users that they hit.
In addition to the safety risks associated with speeding, this behaviour also has a range of negative effects on a community which affect the resident’s quality of life. Speeding results in increased air pollution, noise pollution and also creates a sense of unease and discomfort for pedestrians and cyclists. It is important for drivers to obey posted speed limits to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in the community.
We continue to engage with the community and the North Safety Camera Unit and have a shared objective of reducing speeds and ensuring road users travel at safer speeds through Drumoak. Having targeted enforcement carried out by the North Safety Camera Unit is a vital part of our strategic approach to improve road safety by encouraging improved driver behaviour and speed limit compliance. These changes in driver behaviour contribute to delivering the outcome that we all want, a reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured across the road network, and ultimately working towards our vision zero commitment where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads.”
Ends
03/04/2023