North Safety Camera Unit review of October short term enforcement.
The North Safety Camera Unit has recently completed the final phase of short term enforcement locations for 2023.
The locations had previously been identified by Local Authority and Road Policing colleagues with the aim of improving driver behaviour by encouraging them to slow down and drive within the speed limits. Mobile enforcement teams visited the locations during the Easter and Summer holidays when it was anticipated that the traffic flow would be higher and there would be an increased participation in active travel.
There was success at some locations where enforcement resulted in only a small number of detections. However, four locations had disappointing results and have been revisited given the anticipation of increased traffic flow during the October holidays in order to remind motorists to stay within the speed limits.
The Locations revisited were;
- A92 Dundee to Arbroath route near to the A930 Carlogie Road junction resulting in 44 offences with 1 motorist detected travelling at 109mph a significant 39mph over the speed limit. 37 of those offences detected were in vehicles last recorded to Tayside addresses.
- A90 at the Toll of Birness where the number of offences recorded suggests an improvement in speed limit compliance with only 14 detections. Sadly the highest recorded speed was still 22mph over the speed limit. 10 of those offences to vehicles registered to Aberdeen addresses
- A96 at Alves where sadly the number of detections recorded is higher than in the Summer months with 50 recorded offences. The highest speed being 101mph, a staggering 41mph over the speed limit.
- With the anticipation of an influx of motorists to the Highlands the A836 at Murkle and Reay were selected for enforcement. With the speed limit at Reay having recently been reduced to 20mph the October activity was focused at Murkle where the majority of motorists were compliant. Enforcement resulted in only 4 offences, the highest recorded being 72mph, sadly 3 of those detections were to vehicles registered to Highland residents.
Eric Dunion, Unit Manager of the Police Scotland’s North Safety Camera Unit says: “Of the four locations that we attended during October for short term enforcement it is encouraging that three locations recorded lower numbers of offences than at earlier times in the year and we would like to thank motorists for their compliance.
However, It is disappointing that 112 offences have been detected at these four locations. The majority being at A96 Alves and A92 nr. Carlogie Road where some unacceptable high speeds were also recorded.
We regularly receive requests from residents to enforce in their areas as they have concerns about speeding motorists. So it is particularly sad to note that 64% of these detections were ‘local’ motorists who should be aware of the speed limits in place for the roads on which they are travelling.”
Road Policing Inspector Scott Deans says: “Police Scotland, and our Safety Camera Unit, are committed to working with our partners in order to influence driver and road user behaviour and reduce casualties. It is disappointing that despite the known risks some motorists are still not adhering to the speed limits. It is the responsibility of all motorists to travel at an appropriate speed for the vehicle type and road on which they travel within the limit and to be aware of all other road users”.
More information on safety camera locations can be found at www.safetycameras.gov.scot
27/11/2023