Scotland’s worst speeders spared prosecution

HALF of Scotland’s worst speeders caught by cameras in the past year escaped prosecution, according to police figures.

Scotland's worst speeders are spailed jail, new figures show. Picture: Johnston Press

They include a motorist snapped at 139mph on the A96 in Aberdeenshire – more than twice the speed limit. Nine others caught doing 114mph or more also got off scot-free.

Police Scotland said “no further action” was taken against the drivers because the vehicle number plate was not visible, road markings were unclear or paperwork was not completed in time.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists, which obtained the figures from a Freedom of Information request, called for further research to ensure speeders were prosecuted.

Road safety campaigners Brake called for procedures to be tightened.

The figures showed the 20 highest speeds caught by cameras in Scotland between April 2013 and June this year, although none were available for Strathclyde.

They were topped by 139mph recorded by a mobile speed camera van on a 60mph stretch of the A96 between Keith and Huntly.

Other speeders to escape fines or other penalties included a driver caught by a mobile unit at 127mph on a 70mph dual carriageway section of the A9 at Moulinearn, near Pitlochry. Another motorist who was let off was recorded at 120mph.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We will rigorously enforce the law on speeding, which remains a major factor in many road accidents.”