Politicians have welcomed statistics which suggest controversial average speed cameras have helped slash the rate of serious and fatal crashes on the A9.
Transport Scotland has released a study, outlining the amount of accidents on the Inverness-Dunblane stretch since the so-called “yellow vultures” went live in 2014.
The report shows the number of fatal and serious accidents on the 136-mile stretch had dropped by nearly 60% from a three-year average of 17 to seven.
However, critics said the figures had been “massaged”, pointing out the number of fatal accidents on the Perth-Inverness section actually rose from four in 2013 to five.
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said that those who campaigned against the speed cameras should now admit defeat.
He said: “This really is good news. I am delighted that the introduction of average speed cameras has had such an immediate and demonstrable effect.
“I hope that those who spoke out so vociferously against these cameras will now accept that they were wrong and recognise the important role that this technology is playing in preventing accidents and, most importantly, saving lives.”
Roseanna Cunningham MSP said: “The A9 is a key transport spine running through my constituency and providing the key route between the central belt and the Highlands. It is a very busy road and so it is really good to learn that, for the first time since parts of the A9 were upgraded in the 1970s, there were no fatal accidents anywhere on the route from July to December and none at all between Dunblane and Perth for the whole period covered by the report.
“This really is very good news which I am certain will be widely and warmly welcomed.”
Mike Burns, of the A9 Speed Cameras is Not the Answer campaign, accused the Scottish Government of hiding the true figures with “some dubious massaging of the statistics.”
Transport Minister Derek Mackay insisted that the whole route was now “generally safer” adding: “These statistics are showing that we deployed the right measures.”