MORE than 1,800 motorists have been caught speeding through 40mph roadworks on the notorious A9 in just three months.
And the figure could have been far higher – had cameras not been switched off for nearly six months after work on dualling the north’s busiest road started.
Upgrading the Dalraddy-Kincraig stretch got underway in September and new average-speed cameras were brought in to enforce a 40mph limit.
Figures released to the Press and Journal show that 1,883 speeding offences were detected in the five-mile stretch between March 1 and May 31 this year.
Of these, 1,605 were dealt with by fixed penalties, while 138 drivers were reported to the procurator fiscal for possible prosecution.
No further action was taken in relation to 140 offences, including cases where the driver could not be identified.
It also emerged that the speed cameras were not activated until March 1 – because of issues with supplying power to the devices and other technical problems.
Campaigners blamed the “ludicrous” situation of having a 40mph speed limit within a separate 60mph average-speed camera zone for the high figures.
Arron Duncan, North Safety Camera Unit manager, said it was “disappointing” a “significant” number of motorists were caught speeding but added the total represented about 0.5% of vehicles travelling through the works.
He said: “In that regard I would add that drivers may think they know this section of road well due to being a regular user, however just because you know the road does not mean that you know what is going to happen at any given time, particularly during the ongoing construction works.
“It is this unexpected element that leads me to highlight that for the safety of all road users and workers alike drivers must travel within the speed limit posted and more importantly at an appropriate speed for the road and weather conditions, which may be less than 40mph, thereby ensuring they give themselves time to react and stop should they need to.
“Whilst the average-speed cameras are playing an important part in maintaining a safe zone on this stretch of road the ultimate responsibility lies with the individual driver complying with the restrictions in place.
“Those detected speeding to date have clearly made a conscious decision not to do so and by engaging in such risk-taking have now to deal with the consequences of that decision.”
However, Mike Burns, of the A9 Average Speed Cameras Are Not The Answer campaign, said he had been told of several drivers “crying foul” about the scheme.
He said: “With roadworks stopping at evenings and weekends, drivers are getting confused with the quite frankly bizarre and ludicrous mix of a 40mph average zone within a 60mph average zone.
“Far from being proud of the figures, there needs to be a full investigation as to why A9 drivers are subject to what we believe is the only case in the UK of varying average-speed zones within further zones, as it is clear driver confusion is playing a massive part in this.”
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “Safety is a key priority across our entire network, that’s why the average-speed cameras are in place to protect road workers and road users alike.
“We would urge the minority of drivers who ignore the reduced limit to bear this in mind.”