‘Missed opportunity’ claim as A836 speed cameras detect zero offences
Picture: Alan Hendry
The temporary deployment of average speed cameras on a notorious section of the A836 has been branded "a missed opportunity" and "a waste of money" after no offences were detected over a two-month period. Four camera columns were put up - one at a site east of Reay, one at Forss, another near Brims Hill and one just to the west of Thurso - after Police Scotland's North Safety Camera Unit, working in partnership with the Scottish Safety Camera Programme and Highland Council, identified the area as having "speed concerns and increased traffic volumes". The cameras became operational at the start of September, on a temporary basis, as part of plans to improve road safety and encourage better speed compliance on Scotland's roads.
They were taken down this week. The North Safety Camera Unit said this week that during September and October "the cameras detected zero offences, albeit they were not fully operational at all times". Manager Eric Dunion said: "We believe the cameras have been extremely successful in reminding motorists of their speeds and encouraging them to drive within the limits.
A two-month period of enforcement which results in zero offences is a very positive exercise for us." The A836, the main road west of Thurso, is part of the North Coast 500 route.
Highland councillors Matthew Reiss and Struan Mackie, who represent Thurso and Northwest Caithness, helped form a Forss road safety campaign group[1] three years ago. In August this year the two councillors questioned how effective the average speed cameras would be[2], given their locations.
Councillor Reiss, a former area police commander, said this week: "Going back in time, the speeding problem at Forss first came to my attention in 1996 when I recall standing at School Place operating a radar gun.
By late in 2013 I was a newly elected councillor and was handed a petition from local residents in the Forss area by the MP, John Thurso. "It took several years of asking to get any action and the rumble strips and place-name signs eventually were put in place. I pay tribute to Dounreay and Mark Rouse[3] [the site's former managing director] for their considerable interest and assistance.
"What we had initially hoped for was a double white line through the village at School Place and, potentially, a lower speed limit - not expensive but effective. This idea did not meet the guidance from the Scottish Government so was not possible.
"Of interest, a survey by retired police accident investigator Iain Gregory highlighted the accident risks and, sadly, serious accidents have occurred. "You would need a supercar to achieve an illegal average speed between the cameras' positions.
"The cameras should have been at each end of the two straight high-speed sections of the A836, namely the Forss straight and at Balmore.
If we had been consulted about this then this bizarre situation would not have developed. "Unfortunately, this very costly exercise looks like a missed opportunity to reduce serious accidents on this part of the NC500. The risks remain."
Councillor Reiss added: "I am sorry to be so scathing, but these cameras could have been effective had they been placed in the high-risk areas. "Of course there were zero offences, as it was virtually impossible to do an average speed high enough through all the corners and bends to breach the threshold. Think of the Forss House Hotel area.
"If I have misunderstood the experts I would be the first to apologise. If it wasn't so serious and such a waste of money this matter would be worthy of Yes, Minister." Earlier this week, a woman who lives close to the Shebster straight - on the alternative route between Thurso and Reay - claimed the camera deployment had succeeded only in shifting the problem of irresponsible driving from one road to another.
She likened the speed of some cars to the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek[4] and also expressed concerns about the number of HGVs "thundering past".
Caithness Roads Recovery (CRR) co-founder Iain Gregory, also a member of the Forss group, said: "CRR has had several contacts from people living on the back road through Shebster concerning the predictable transfer of traffic from the A836 during the period that the speed cameras were in place.
Picture: Alan Hendry
"I have no doubt whatsoever that what the residents say is accurate, and we can only hope that they will see a considerable reduction in antisocial driving in that area now that the A836 cameras have been removed. "However, this does nothing to alleviate the problems faced by the unfortunate residents in Forss. We have said repeatedly that all that is required is for the installation of double white lines and a lower speed limit through the village.
"There may well be 'guidelines' covering such matters, but that is all they are - guidelines - and we call for urgent action by Highland Council to act swiftly and introduce these vital measures." The cameras are the first average speed systems that can be moved between locations and the first to make use of renewable energy. A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: "We are reviewing the data from the trial but early indications suggest a significant improvement in driving behaviour."
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References
- ^ helped form a Forss road safety campaign group (www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk)
- ^ questioned how effective the average speed cameras would be (www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk)
- ^ Dounreay and Mark Rouse (www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk)
- ^ She likened the speed of some cars to the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek (www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk)