Average speed cameras will be introduced on the A9 in Scotland.
The new average speed camera system will run from Dunblane to Inverness.
Transport Minister Keith Brown visited Blackford along the route to see one of the areas that will benefit from the scheme. He was accompanied by Superintendent Iain Murray from Police Scotland and Michael McDonnell, director of Road Safety Scotland.
The decision to introduce the system follows an ongoing review of evidence as well as careful consideration of the views of members of the A9 Safety Group over the last year.
The A9 system will be the second in Scotland. The first was installed on the A77 in Ayrshire between Bogend Toll and Ardwell Bay in 2005. Since then it has delivered a 46% reduction in fatal accidents and 35% reduction in serious accidents.
The camera system will back up a number of measures that have been introduced on the A9 in a bid to improve safety in recent years. More than £50 million has been invested in safety and structural improvements on the route since 2007. This includes improved consistency of signing and lining, improved geometry and safety barrier works as well as variable messaging signs displaying journey times.
Keith Brown said: “The A9 is one of Scotland’s most important routes, linking Inverness to the rest of the country and it is extremely important that it is as safe as possible for all road users.
“The A9 Safety Group has recommended that an average speed camera system is introduced to help cut down on the number of accidents and Transport Scotland will now take this forward.
“While the Scottish Government believes that dualling will be the long-term solution to the safety issues on the A9 we also want to make the immediate improvements that will bring positive changes to driver behaviour.
“Average speed cameras systems have a proven track record of reducing casualties and excessive speed and their high visibility leads to better compliance of the speed limit.”
The first of the cameras is set to be introduced early next year and the system is expected to be fully operational in the summer of 2014.
