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Alexander questions A9 average camera plan





Use of average speed cameras need to be targeted - Danny Alexander
Use of average speed cameras need to be targeted - Danny Alexander

Badenoch and Strathspey MP Danny Alexander has urged the Scottish Government to end seven years of delay over dualling the A9.

In a letter to Transport Secretary Keith Brown, he criticised the knee-jerk decision to install average speed cameras on the road and asked the minister to provide evidence that they would help prevent accidents on the road.

He also called for the Scottish Government to use some of the extra £1.1billion for infrastructure, made available over the past three years by the UK government, to bring forward plans to dual the A9.

Mr Alexander (Lib Dem) said: "There is no good reason why it should take seven years to do next to nothing. At a UK level, we are working to shorten the timelines for new road projects to less than three years.

"There is no reason why the Scottish Government could not do likewise.

"I am sure I was not the only Highlander to be surprised that the Scottish Government’s big summer announcement on the A9 was their intention to install average speed cameras the full length of the sections that are not yet dualled.

"It is clear the high speeds are a significant factor in some of the horrific accidents we have seen on A9 and I would support the targeted use of speed cameras at blackspots.

"But it is also clear that some of the dangerous driving on display is caused by frustrated drivers caught in very long queues behind lorries and tankers. That frustration is only relieved by dual carriageways and by hauliers politely pulling over to let queues past.

"I’d like to see the full assessment of all the options for road safety improvements published, so we can all see how the average speed proposal compared to other options which I presume were on the table, like a more targeted approach."


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