Police warning after new A9 average speed cameras go live
Drivers are being warned that unmarked police car patrols have been stepped up on the A9 with the switching-on of the new average speed cameras earlier today (Tuesday).
The additional patrols will be drafted in from around Scotland to give an on-the-road back-up to the cameras.
A major political row has surrounded the Scottish Government’s decision to introduce the cameras, at a cost of £2.5 million, as a safety measure, following a series of fatal crashes and while a 10-year dualling programme gets under way.
Opponents claim the cameras will be more dangerous by causing traffic to slow to unacceptable levels with long tailbacks, which in turn will lead to driver frustration and risk-taking.
Police Scotland’s North Area commander, Chief Superintendent Julian Innes, said: "I’m hoping the cameras will take care of speeding on the A9 for us.
"But people will become accustomed to seeing more unmarked vehicles. Previously, as part of Northern Constabulary, we only had a couple of unmarked cars, but now we have the opportunity in Police Scotland to redeploy vehicles from across the whole of Scotland, depending on what demand and need is.
"Our primary focus will be dealing with irresponsible driver behaviour, which can be overtaking while driving dangerously or even on some occasions driving too slow.
"The cars will still be out catching speeders too.
"As it is an average speed system, vehicles could speed then slow down so we will still be actively looking for folk travelling over the speed limit.
"Anyone who thinks they are going for a quick blast and then slows down can still get caught."
Meanwhile, a new A9 Safety Group campaign, which will run on radio and online, aims to raise awareness of the appropriate speed limits on the route after the cameras were turned on a minute after midnight this morning.
Police have also cautioned that the speed limit for two plus one overtaking lanes is 60mph as part of the campaign.
