A9 to be fitted with average speed cameras

[Green_not_greed]

£2.5 Million?

Would it not be cheaper & easier to just paint more arrows on the road to help avoid the confusion some seem to suffer with a road that constantly switches between duel & single carriageway?

Agreed ! Having been up and down the A90 this week between Dundee and Aberdeen, I see its fitted with lots of fixed speed cameras. That works fine and most cars just cruise along under the speed limit. The road is all dual carriageway and 70mph bar one short stretch past a junction at 50mph. For me that would be far preferable and most cost-effective for the A9 than use of average speed cameras.

[mi16]

Agreed ! Having been up and down the A90 this week between Dundee and Aberdeen, I see its fitted with lots of fixed speed cameras. That works fine and most cars just cruise along under the speed limit. The road is all dual carriageway and 70mph bar one short stretch past a junction at 50mph. For me that would be far preferable and most cost-effective for the A9 than use of average speed cameras.

My preferred option would be an unrestricted stretch of 3 lane motorway from Inverness to Glasgow and Edinburgh

[Green_not_greed]

My preferred option would be an unrestricted stretch of 3 lane motorway from Inverness to Glasgow and Edinburgh

Unfortunately on planet Earth that's not an option! Even the major motorways between central belt cities are 2 lanes each way.

[mi16]

Unfortunately on planet Earth that's not an option! Even the major motorways between central belt cities are 2 lanes each way.

There are plenty 3 lane motorways in the UK.Anyhow no point in debating any options the SPECS system has been rubber stamped and that is that.

[Phill]

Had a wee trundle up and down the A9 today. Heading South we witnessed one woman make 4 outrageous overtaking manoeuvres, each time having to force herself back into the line of traffic narrowly escaping head on collisions. We were travelling 40 to 48 in a 60 zone.
Heading back North I had to slam on to avoid a head on going round a bend, vehicle in my lane on a blind bend overtaking in a 30 zone. (they may have been exceeding 30)

It's dickhead cameras we need, but, been saying this for years.

[mi16]

Had a wee trundle up and down the A9 today. Heading South we witnessed one woman make 4 outrageous overtaking manoeuvres, each time having to force herself back into the line of traffic narrowly escaping head on collisions. We were travelling 40 to 48 in a 60 zone.
Heading back North I had to slam on to avoid a head on going round a bend, vehicle in my lane on a blind bend overtaking in a 30 zone. (they may have been exceeding 30)

It's dickhead cameras we need, but, been saying this for years.

Was this on the future SPECS stretch or north of Inverness?

[Phill]

North of Inverness this time, however typical of the sort of thing witnessed on single sections Inverness to Perth.

[Rheghead]

In my experience, if you impove the road then you just encourage more people to use it then it requires another improvement. Is improving roads really a sensible option?

[Phill]

Depends how many dead people you want I suppose.

[mi16]

In my experience, if you impove the road then you just encourage more people to use it then it requires another improvement. Is improving roads really a sensible option?

Hmm interesting theory there, lets dig up the roads and go back to cart tracks.

[joxville]

Eh? Sorry, don't understand.

Traffic management cameras can only be sited where there is higher than average number of accidents so for them to be installed on the A9 there must be a record of accident statistics which allows those in charge to do so. However, if the road is subsequently upgraded to dual carriageway it become a 'new' road and there will not be sufficient statistical data recorded to continue the use of the cameras in that area, therefore they would have to be removed.

[Phill]

SPECS on dual sections aren't really an issue. But I am dubious as to any real benefit on the single sections where we'll see more HGV's topping out at 40 MPH etc. Whilst speed is often a contributory factor in the resulting accidents, often the cause is poor decision making prior to a manoeuvre, usually an overtaking move on single carriageway.

[ducati]

I would expect the SPECS cameras to pretty much eliminate overtaking making it much safer, although it will be a bit tedious playing follow the leader from Inverness to Perth.

[Phill]

The glorious A9 yesterday. Think we were getting 28Mph here. Lost count of the number of mental suicidal manoeuvres.




SPECS themselves probably wouldn't be an issue. The overall average speed often comes out well below 60 if the whole length is taken into account. A lot will depend on how SPECS details HGV's and over what sections the average is taken into account.

Stopping numpties trying to expand the laws of physics is another issue.

[ducati]

I'd like to know how you were taking those photo's without dropping your fag and spilling your coffee?

[Big Gaz]

I'd like to know how you were taking those photo's without dropping your fag and spilling your coffee?

Ii dunno Phill, you have some serious driving skill set what with driving a car, drinking coffee, smoking a ciggie AND managing to take pics making it look like you were in the passenger seat too!