Average speed cameras set to go live on notorious stretch of road
Delayed average speed cameras intended to be used during the summer to catch speeding North Coast 500 motorists are finally going live – at the start of autumn.
The cameras are being deployed on a temporary basis on the A836 between Reay and Thurso, which includes the notorious Forss straight.
Campaigners have been calling for improvements to the road as well as a reduced speed limit and more enforcement in the area since a series of serious accidents on the route.
Transport Scotland announced in June that there would be four camera columns – one at a site east of Reay, one at Forss, another near Brims Hill and one just to the west of Thurso. The cameras were originally intended to go live in July.
Police Scotland’s North Safety Camera Unit, working in partnership with the Scottish Safety Camera Programme and Highland Council, identified the location “as having speed concerns and increased traffic volumes, both of which are potential ongoing road safety challenges”.
That section of the A836 is used by motorists travelling to and from Dounreay and Vulcan, as well as being part of the North Coast 500, and calls for safety improvements have intensified in recent years.
The two community councils in the area, Thurso and Caithness West, both raised concerns recently over the location of the average speed cameras and questioned how effective they will be in reducing speeds on two straight sections in particular.
Highland councillor Struan Mackie, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness, argues there should have been more consultation over the camera placement.
He said: “Speeding on the A836 is a significant issue and community campaigns have clearly identified problem areas such as the Forss straight and Balmore straight.
• Caithness average speed camera deployment a ‘missed opportunity’[1]
• Average speed camera mast locations revealed for A836[2]
“We feel there has been a missed opportunity to target these speeding hotspots through the alternative placing of cameras at each end of the straights, instead siting the cameras close to corners where traffic will inevitably be reducing speed.”
Fellow Thurso councillor Matthew Reiss agreed, adding: “I wish we had been consulted regarding the positioning of the actual cameras. We need one at each end of the Forss straight and the other two on the Balmore section. It is exasperating.”
The cameras are due to go live on Monday, September 2, and will be deployed on a temporary basis as part of plans to improve road safety and encourage better speed compliance.
While average speed cameras are already in place along parts of the A9, the north coast cameras are the first to make use of renewable energy using a combination of solar and bio-methanol sources.
They will be powered by off-grid sources which enables the technology to be deployed at locations previously inaccessible for fixed infrastructure.
Eric Dunion, North Safety Camera Unit manager, said: “Our priority is firmly focused on helping to reduce road casualties and improving road safety by slower motorists down and making them think about their driving behaviours.
“The introduction of these new temporary cameras on the A836 will hopefully do just that.
“Monthly speed surveys will be carried out to monitor vehicle speeds and traffic volumes and to help determine our continued deployment strategy.”
References
- ^ Caithness average speed camera deployment a ‘missed opportunity’ (www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk)
- ^ Average speed camera mast locations revealed for A836 (www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk)