Scotland’s transport minister has said he believes average speed cameras due for a switch-on between Dundee and Stonehaven within months will help rid the A90 stretch of its killer road reputation.
As part of the visit of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Scottish government cabinet’s visit to Angus yesterday, transport minister Humza Yousaf told community councillors from along the 51.5-mile section of trunk road where the system is due to go live in October that he hoped to see a repeat of the significant improvement in driver behaviour which has emerged in other areas of Scotland where average speed cameras have been installed..
The £2 million project, which commenced in May, will feature 30 cameras in total – 15 in each direction – located five to seven kilometres apart.
Meeting representatives from the North Safety Camera Unit, Tealing, Forfar and Stonehaven community councils and the Federation of Small Businesses, Mr Yousaf said he expected the A90 scheme to deliver the “significant outcomes” of other set-ups on the A9 and A77.
“Average speed cameras are about road safety, and these systems have been a proven success,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the A90 consistently features as one of the trunk roads in Scotland with the highest collision statistics.
We know that more than three in every five vehicles between Dundee and Stonehaven are speeding, with one in five exceeding by over 10mph.
“Eleven people have lost their life on the A90 between Dundee and Stonehaven since 2012.
“Any death on our roads is one too many, and I look forward to seeing similar results on the A90 as we’ve seen on the A77 and A9 in reducing casualties and improving driver behaviour.
“With the improved driver behaviour that average speed cameras bring, we will also see a significant reduction in the number of drivers receiving fines and penalties.
“This was a good opportunity to update a range of local stakeholders on the development of this important road safety measure and it is clear there continues to be wide support for average speed cameras in this region,” added the minister.
