A90 speed fines rise by 1,100% after speed limit dropped

SPEEDING fines on a busy stretch of the A90 have increased by more than 1,100 per cent since the limit was lowered from 50mph to 40mph.

A mobile speed camera has caught a 10-fold increase in motorists in Dundee following the introduction of a lower speed limit.

The figures have provoked claims from national motoring groups that the cameras are being used for “profiteering” rather than road safety.

Figures obtained in a Freedom of Information request show that just 114 speeding offences were recorded on a stretch of the Kingsway in Dundee during the whole of 2014.

In 2015 that figure jumped to 1,386.

At the start of February 2015 the legal speed limit between the Clepington Road junction and the Forfar Road junction was reduced from 50mph to 40mph with motorists criticising the move.

The level of fines issued to speeding motorists have increased more than 10-fold since the reduced limit was imposed and a mobile camera unit began operation.

Claire Armstrong from pressure group Safe Speed said: “They are a profit making organisation, there should be no profit in road safety.

“They are deliberately reducing road speeds because they’ve decided they want to nick more motorists.

“The speed camera industry is digging its claws in and this applies to roads from Scotland to Cornwall.

“Proper road safety is built from sound science, engineering and proper education.”

Hugh Bladon from the Alliance of British Drivers insists that it was time for Police Scotland to “go back to the drawing board”.

He said: “You have a road that has been reduced to 40 miles per hour and it is nonsensical.

“The authorities have to go back to the drawing board and reconsider.

“It is utterly absurd fining people for driving normally.”

Figures also show that 14 people were injured driving between the junctions between 2013 to February 8 2015, the day before the new limit was imposed.

A total of four people were injured during the remainder of last year after the 40mph zone came into play.

Andy Jones, East Safety Camera Unit Manager for Police Scotland believes this is proof that the mobile camera unit and the updated speed limit are working.

He said: “Since the speed limit was lowered to 40mph, mobile safety cameras have been deployed on a number of occasions with the primary goal of reducing the number of individuals killed or injured in road traffic collisions on that stretch of road as set out in the Scottish 2020 targets.

“Clearly, a number of individuals have been detected travelling at speeds in excess of the new limit but it is hoped that by having highly visible camera enforcement vehicles on site, Police Scotland will reiterate the need to slow down at that location and thereafter reduce both detections and casualties.”

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