What has happened on the A82/A85?
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Where on the A82 / A85 has the Average Speed Camera (ASC) system been deployed?
Average Speed Cameras (ASC) have been deployed over 15.9 miles of the A82/A85 from Tyndrum to Lix Toll. This has replaced the previous mobile camera enforcement strategy. Click here to view where the cameras have been installed along the section of road.
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Why has the ASC system been introduced to the A82/A85?
ASC are deployed to make our roads safer by reducing injury collisions at locations where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding.
Over 6,000 vehicles use this section of the road network per day. Under the previous mobile camera enforcement strategy one in three vehicles were speeding and there were regular instances of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by over 15mph. While the previous enforcement strategy was effective during deployment hours there had still been 21 collisions between 2014-2016. 1 of those resulted in a fatality and 11 have resulted in serious injury.
The nature of this section of route in terms of its length, forward visibility/geometry, vehicle speeds and collision record indicate that an ASC system will likely positively influence road safety on this section of the route.
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What are the anticipated benefits of the A82/A85 ASC system?
It is anticipated the A82/A85 ASC system will enhance the safety performance of the route and realise a range of improvements.
This includes:
• fewer people being killed or seriously injured;
• reduced incident frequency and impact;
• improved journey time reliability, driver behaviour and speed limit compliance; and
• the opportunity for redeployment of mobile camera resources elsewhere on our road network. -
What is the cost of the A82/A85 ASC system?
The ASC system on the A82/A85 is estimated to cost £250k. This has been funded through existing Transport Scotland budgets, with ongoing operational costs met by the Scottish Safety Camera Programme.
This is a cost effective spend when considering that every single fatal collision in Scotland costs over £2.1m to the wider economy.
Road user questions
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How will the A82/A85 ASC system address driver frustration?
Driver frustration on the route is partly due to the behaviour of other drivers and partly due to unreliability of journey times. Observations indicate that ASC systems improve driver behaviour and people are more realistic about the speed they can drive at under such a system. Journey times will become more reliable as the cameras will reduce the number of incidents that require closures.
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Will there be more collisions due to road users watching their speedometer?
No. This was mentioned before other similar average speed camera schemes were implemented. However, each of these schemes have encouraged improved levels of driver behaviour and speed limit compliance leading to a reduction in collisions.
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What signage is being used to notify road users they are entering an average speed section?
A signing regime is in place which is consistent with that used on the A77, A9, A90 and ASC systems used elsewhere in the UK. This meets current best practice standards.
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Will this have a detrimental effect on connectivity and attractiveness for investment and tourism in the west of Scotland?
The speed limit on the route remains unchanged so journey times for those complying with the limit will see no difference to their journey time. In addition, journey time reliability will improve as a result of reduced incident frequency and severity. Together, this will ensure the connection is safer and more reliable which can only be attractive for investment.
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Will tourists understand how to drive appropriately within the system?
Driving under an ASC system places no additional requirements on road users outside of those set out in the Highway Code. Drivers who understand the speed limit will be able to drive appropriately in the system. It is recognised that this section of the network serves a wide ranging mix of traffic, with tourist numbers increasing significantly during the summer months. Clear signing is in place to ensure that road users are made fully aware when they are entering and exiting the average speed camera controlled zone.
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Will speeding problems move to other roads?
Safety performance across the trunk road network will continue to be monitored to assess any displacement of both traffic volume and speeds. A similar exercise was carried out on the A77 and A9 and no evidence was found to support any type of displacement.
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Which type of ASC system has been introduced on the A82/A85?
The Jenoptik Vector system has been installed. This can monitor multiple lanes of traffic from a single camera. All columns and camera heads are visible to all road users. Vector has full Home Office Type Approval which is a requirement for any remote speed enforcement system in use in the UK.
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Is the A82/A85 ASC system capable of detecting all vehicle types?
Yes. The ASC system is configured to have flexibility in its operation and is capable of detecting and enforcing speeds for all vehicle types.
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Does the A82/A85 ASC system work in darkness?
Yes. The ASC system works 24/7 in all weathers and uses infrared illumination when it’s dark. This ‘invisible’ light means the roads don’t need lighting for the cameras to be effective and it is a safer way to operate the system.
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Who operates this ASC system?
As with all safety cameras in this section of the network, this ASC system is being operated by Police Scotland's East Safety Camera Unit.
Revenue
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Is this a mechanism to generate additional revenue from speeding offences?
No. The A82/A85 ASC scheme will result in better speed limit compliance, fewer camera detections and ultimately fewer fines for drivers.
Evaluation
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How will the success of the ASC scheme be measured?
All enforcement strategies, including the A82/A85 ASC system, are measured in accordance with the Scottish Safety Camera Programme handbook. This involves a comparison of three years data before the scheme was introduced to three years after it was completed. Evaluated evidence will then be used to ensure any further measures introduced are likely to positively influence driver behaviours’.