Revealed: Speeding offences caught by Ayrshire cameras
The force says that it is “common knowledge” that not all fixed cameras are permanently operational and that making the data public – or even confirming whether it exists – could encourage drivers to break the limit.
The admission came in response to a freedom of information request submitted by Ayrshire Weekly Press – which also revealed that the highest speed recorded by any camera in Ayrshire last year was an alarming 109mph.
We asked for data on speeding offences captured at each camera location in the county during 2023, as listed on the Safety Camera Scotland website.
We also asked for the highest and lowest recorded speeds which led to offences being committed.
Police Scotland provided details for speeding offences at mobile speed van locations, and for the average speed cameras along the A77 between Symington and Girvan.
However, the force said it could “neither confirm nor deny” whether the same information existed for fixed camera locations, citing “public interest concerns”.
They stated that “the overwhelming public interest lies in preventing the commission of road traffic offences and keeping road users safe from harm”, and said that if the information did exist, it would be ‘exempt’ from disclosure.
The force stated: “It is common knowledge that not all fixed safety cameras will be operational at any given time.”
They also said that providing data on a ‘per camera’ basis would allow members of the public to gauge which cameras are active – potentially encouraging drivers to commit offences.
Police Scotland confirmed that while information on the slowest speeds leading to offences does exist, it would not be disclosed.
They stated that “disclosing the enforcement threshold above the speed limit at which offences will be triggered” could also encourage poor driver behaviour.
As a result, no data was provided for the following locations:
- A737 Kilwinning Road, Irvine, near James Crescent
- A738 Stevenston Road, Kilwinning, near Segton Avenue
- B7049 Dalry Road, Beith, near Grahamfield Place
- A719 Main Road, Ayr, near Glenmuir Place
- A71 Loudoun Road, Newmilns, near Gilfoot
- A737 Irvine Road, Kilwinning, near Smith Crescent
However, details were provided for the various mobile speed van locations across Ayrshire.
Two of these locations are on the B714 Dalry Road in Saltcoats, near Kenilworth Road and near Lochranza Place – and no offences were committed at either.
There are three speed van locations listed on the A78 through Fairlie, and again no offences were captured at two of these locations – both on Main Road, near Kelburn Avenue and near School Brae.
However, two offenders were caught by the van at the third Fairlie site, on Irvine Road near Montgomerie Avenue.
A top speed of 50mph was clocked by one of the offenders in this 30mph zone.Neither of these offences led to a fixed penalty, or a Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty Notice (COFPN), as it’s officially known – which is Police Scotland’s alternative to prosecution for such offences.
Of the data provided, the overwhelming majority of offences was captured by the average speed cameras located on the A77 in South Ayrshire between Bogend Toll, near Symington, and Ardwell Bay, south of Girvan.
Those recorded a total of 1,421 speeding offences during 2023, with a top speed of 109mph clocked by the cameras.
The speed limit on that stretch of the A77 varies from 30mph to 70mph, though the data released by Police Scotland does not reveal where the 109mph speed was recorded.
Of the 1,421 offences recorded by the cameras, a total of 1,027 led to fixed penalty notices being issued.
Inspector Craig Beaver of Road Policing West Command said: “Mobile speed cameras and average speed cameras are vital in supporting road safety.
“The visual presence and routine deployments at key sites provide reassurance to motorists that road safety is a key priority for Police Scotland and partners.
“Travelling at inappropriate speeds is proven to be a significant factor in fatal and serious injury collisions.
“We ask all motorists to respect speed limits, which in turn will improve the safety of everyone on Ayrshire’s roads.”
The data was released little more than a month after device managers Safety Cameras Scotland announced that several traffic cameras in Ayrshire, and at other locations across Scotland, would become “dormant” due to improved driver behaviour.
Live deployment at various sites was paused after no speed or red-light related injury collisions were recorded over a five-year period.
The infrastructure and signs at all the ‘dormant’ cameras will remain in place for the time being, with a final decision on whether to decommission or reactivate the cameras likely in three years’ time.
The ‘dormant’ cameras in Ayrshire are at the following locations:
- A70 Cumnock to Ayr, west of Killoch Colliery
- A71 Bellfield Interchange to Warrix Interchange, east of Moorfield roundabout
- A71 Warrix Interchange to Bellfield Interchange, west of Moorfield roundabout
- A737 Irvine Road, Kilwinning, near Smith Crescent
- A719 Whitletts Road, Ayr, at Walker Road
- A79 Prestwick Road, Ayr, near Woodfield Road
- A737 New Street, Dalry, near Kilwinning Road