Badenoch MSP brands Alexander A9 camera claim as a smokescreen
Badenoch and Strathspey MP Danny Alexander’s "sporadic attacks" on average speed cameras for the A9 have been branded a smokescreen.
The claim has been made by fellow local politican Dave Thompson in the wake of Transport Scotland setting out the range of action being taken to improve safety on the A9 – including the deployment of average speed cameras.
He said the letter makes clear that the A77 saw a 46% fall in fatal casualties and a 35% reduction in serious injury casualties after average speed cameras were installed on the route.
Transport Scotland also revealed that analysis from traffic counters on the route showed one in three cars on single carriageway sections of the A9 between Perth and Inverness were breaking the speed limit.
The SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said: "Transport Scotland has set out the clear and compelling case for average speed cameras on the A9 that can and will make a big difference when it comes to saving lives.
"The simple fact is that by definition speed cameras will not penalise people who stick to the law – but it will make their journeys safer by helping to stop other motorists from speeding.
"People in the Highlands are not fools. They know full well that Danny Alexander’s attacks on average speed cameras are simply a smokescreen to try and hide the fact that he and his party did absolutely nothing when in office on dualling the A9.
"Indeed do-nothing Danny’s personal contribution on the A9 has been to inflict cuts to Scotland’s budgets that have only made it more difficult to deliver road upgrades.
"Danny Alexander’s first loyalty is always to the Tory Treasury in London, not to the Highlands and Islands, as people across the region know only too well.
"Despite that hurdle, the SNP Government has begun the process of dualling the A9 – the only Government that can truthfully say it is delivering this."
