Analysis of evidence on injury collisions and speeding across Scotland’s roads has led to the identification of eight locations for the installation of new safety cameras.

Transport Scotland says that, to ensure consistency when selecting new safety camera sites, a safety camera site prioritisation review is undertaken each year, with the exercise involving a review of evidence from across Scotland to ensure the right camera technology is deployed in the right place at the right time. A range of partners are involved in the review including the three regional safety camera units, all thirty-three road authorities and Police Scotland.

Following the completion of the prioritisation process the following sites have been identified for installation of fixed safety cameras from Jenoptik:

• Bearsden Road, Nitshill Road, Crookston Road and Great Western Road – all Glasgow
• Main Road, Cardross.
• Dubbs Road, Mid Achenleck, Port Glasgow
• Camelon Road, Arnothill, Falkirk
• Regent Street, Greenock.

Work to install these cameras is expected to be complete by mid-March 2022.

Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth said, “Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 sets out a vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030.

“Safety cameras play an important role in delivering this vision, encouraging and ensuring road users travel at safer speeds and within the limits.

“A range of evidence is used in order to identify the sites most in need of these new cameras. This means we are targeting this kind of safety intervention where speed has been issue in the past, with the aim of having the maximum impact on reducing accidents.

“Where safety cameras have been installed on other routes, they have a strong track record of improving driver behaviour, reducing speeding and making our roads safer for all.

“Deaths or serious injuries on our road network are not an inevitability. Our strong belief, shared by Scotland’s road safety partners, is that even one death on our roads is one too many.”

Mark Patterson, Police Scotland Road Policing Chief Inspector, added, “Safety cameras are deployed where there is a history of injury collisions and an identified issue with speed.

“Every year the Safety Camera Units undertake site selection along with roads authorities to identify a list of new sites that meet the collision and speed profile criteria, as well as determining the most appropriate type of camera for enforcement.

“As a result 8 new fixed cameras will go live in March 2022, which have the advantage of being able to enforce 24 hours a day. The cameras should remind drivers of the importance of travelling within the speed limit at all times and will ultimately result in improved speed limit compliance and a reduction in collisions at these sites.”

Geoff Collins, Deputy Managing Director of Jenoptik Traffic Solutions, reacted by saying, “We are delighted to be working with Transport Scotland and supporting the delivery of Scotland’s road safety vision. These new technology VECTOR SR ‘spot speed’ cameras are a powerful addition to the road safety toolkit.

“With no in-road loops or distracting flashes, they are an effective way to enhance safety at a number of locations across west and central Scotland.”

This assessment process is undertaken annually to identify safety issues on our roads associated with collisions and speeding, to inform whether any potential new camera sites are required. Where necessary cameras will be installed primarily where they have the greatest potential to reduce injury collisions and where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding.

When selecting new safety camera sites a set of criteria is in place within the Scottish Safety Camera Handbook. All sites that demonstrate a collision and speed history are assessed and prioritised. Camera enforcement resource is prioritised at those sites with the potential for maximum casualty reduction.

(Picture – Jenoptik)