A9 average speed cameras improving road safety

The latest report by the A9 Safety Group on accident statistics on the A9 in Scotland indicate that there continues to be a sustained improvement in driver behaviour and a corresponding fall in collisions and casualties. The report contains collision and casualty data for the first 18 months of operation of the average speed cameras to 30 April 2016, which is the mid-point of the evaluation period. The other performance data covers the period to 30 June 2016 unless otherwise stated.
September 1, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

The latest report by the A9 Safety Group on accident statistics on the A9 in Scotland indicate that there continues to be a sustained improvement in driver behaviour and a corresponding fall in collisions and casualties.

The report contains collision and casualty data for the first 18 months of operation of the average speed cameras to 30 April 2016, which is the mid-point of the evaluation period. The other performance data covers the period to 30 June 2016 unless otherwise stated.

In human terms, says the report, four fewer people have been killed, 22 fewer seriously injured and 62 fewer people slightly injured on the A9 in this 18 month period compared to the equivalent baseline period. There are also additional benefits brought through reduced incidents and their subsequent impact, which has improved journey time reliability.

The main headlines from the data monitoring are: The number of fatal casualties between Dunblane and Inverness is down by over 33% compared to the baseline average, while the number of ‘fatal and serious’ collisions between Dunblane and Inverness overall is down by over 45%, with fatal and serious casualties down 62%. There have been no fatal collisions between Dunblane and Perth and the number of serious collisions and injuries is down by almost 85%.

The number of ‘fatal and serious’ collisions between Perth and Inverness is down by almost 32%, with fatal and serious casualties down by almost 58% and the number of serious injury casualties between Perth and Inverness is down by over 71%.

The overall number of casualties of all classes between Dunblane and Inverness is down by 50%.

The number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit remains low, at 1 in 10 compared to the historic benchmark figure of 1 in 3 and the number of vehicles speeding excessively (more than 10 mph above the speed limit) remains low, with a sustained reduction from the historic benchmark figure of 1 in 10 vehicles to 1 in 250.

The number of vehicles detected by the average speed camera system which were considered by Police Scotland for further action remains extremely low at an average of 13 per day (less than 0.03% of the overall volume of vehicles using the route).

Enforcement

Related Content

  • Danish study shows higher speed limits are safer
    February 25, 2014
    A two-year experiment by the Danish road directorate shows accidents have fallen on single-carriageway rural roads and motorways where the speed limit was raised. Since the speed limit on some stretches of two-way rural roads was increased from 80 to 90 km/h, accidents have decreased due to a reduction in the speed differential between the slowest and fastest cars, resulting in less overtaking. The slowest drivers have increased their speeds, but the fastest 15 per cent drive one km/h slower on average
    Read More
  • Auto-braking cars: government should meet motorists halfway
    March 25, 2014
    A UK Government incentive for drivers buying cars with anti-crash technology would save 60 lives and result in 760 fewer serious casualties reported to the police, in just three years. Over ten years, such an incentive would save 1,220 lives and nearly 136,000 casualties, according to Thatcham Research, the insurance industry’s automotive research centre. At a briefing seeking support from senior politicians, health organisations, insurers and vehicle manufacturers at the House of Commons today, Peter S
    Read More
  • Corruption corrodes confidence as ITS battles to improve safety
    October 13, 2015
    News items and articles in this issue illustrate the highs and lows of ITS and the dilemma inherent in enforcement application. An IIHS report showing that speed cameras change motorists' behaviour beyond the immediate vicinity of the installations is further evidence of the positive influence the technology can have, however the guilty plea in the Chicago red light corruption case serves to undermine the entire concept.
    Read More
  • Report calls for extension of point to point cameras
    November 18, 2014
    A report on the role of speed in vehicle crashes in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, makes a number of recommendations to isolate speed as a causal factor in crash rates by improving data collection and conducting specific research to identify the triggers for speeding, particularly in rural and regional areas. The report, by the Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety (Staysafe) also looks at the appropriateness of speed limits and approaches adopted in other jurisdictions and the adequacy of existing
    Read More

Highlighted Content