FOI reveals every speed camera in UK including most northerly mobile unit near Thurso
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Britain's most northern speed camera, a mobile unit operating along the A9 Stainland straight near Thurso, has been revealed along with 500 others in Scotland.
The new data was released under the Freedom of Information Act following a request by road safety campaigners Road Angel to disclose the location of every fixed and mobile speed camera north of the border.
The vast majority of the fixed cameras are located in Scotland’s densely populated central belt around the major conurbations of Glasgow and Edinburgh. But drivers who find themselves exceeding the speed limit on one of Scotland’s many remote country roads could also find themselves landed with a ticket. There are a total of 518 fixed and mobile speed cameras across Scotland, making one for every 10,529 Scots based on the 2019 population estimate of 5.45m people.
The devices include Britain’s most northern speed camera, a mobile unit operating along the A9 Stainland Straight near Thurso. Short term deployments are also available in response to emerging issues or one-off and short term events "where the expected change in traffic behaviour has raised concerns" and have previously operated along the A836 Thurso to John o Groats road near the Sibmister road and the Murkle junction and also along the A836 Tongue to Thurso road near the Reay golf club junction.
Motorists should be aware they may still get caught for speeding wherever they travel to in Scotland, no matter how far remote or populated.
Perhaps unsurprisingly Glasgow has more speed cameras than any other Scottish town or city with 72 in the city area. Capital city Edinburgh is comparatively camera free with only 34 located in the greater conurbation. There are 25 speed cameras within a few miles of the border with England, targeting those motorists who hope to put their foot down once entering the country.
The Scottish government claims to deploy the cameras along the stretches of roads which have high levels of collisions and speeding in an attempt to maximise reducing the number of incidents.
If caught speeding by these cameras, drivers should expect to receive a minimum fine of £100 and three penalty points added to their licence.
Gary Digva, founder of Road Angel said: “Speed cameras play a useful role in keeping Britain’s roads safe and it’s interesting to see how they are being deployed in Scotland.
“Our Freedom of Information request revealed that not only are there a high number of speed cameras in the cities and large towns but also that the police in Scotland are committed to the use of mobile speed cameras even on some of the most remote roads in the Highlands.
For more information about both fixed and mobile speed cameras across Scotland please visit www.roadangelgroup.com/
The locations of the cameras are revealed at this link: www.safetycameras.gov.scot/cameras/safety-camera-locations/
Mt Gigva added that anyone thinking they can get away with speeding in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland should think again as "the data shows they need to be aware of mobile speed cameras in even the most remote spots".
