Hundreds back speeding petition in bid to tackle reckless drivers on major road

FED-UP residents have launched a petition calling for action from South Lanarkshire Council to tackle speeding drivers on the A72.

Already, 178 people have signed as they believe the temporary speed camera in Ferniegair, Hamilton, to be used this summer won’t prove effective enough.

Hamilton North and East councillor Davie McLachlan is supporting his constituents as “it is inevitable that the speed of traffic increases” on the long, straight road.

South Lanarkshire Council has said Police Scotland will continue enforcing the speed limit.

Resident Caroline Burke, who started the petition, said: “The main issue isn’t that it’s a main road.

“The speed limit is not an issue if people are driving properly but they are not.

“They are speeding and is not policed.

“That is becoming an issue when you’ve got motorway diversions which we understand is going to happen but they are not driving at 30mph.

“When the traffic is diverted, it’s diverted at high speeds.

“No one is policing the speed limit.”

Cllr McLachlan has raised the issue with the council, Police Scotland and Monica Lennon, who was MSP for Central it

Scotland and is the Labour candidate for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.

South Lanarkshire Council’s head of roads and transportation, Gordon MacKay, said: “Our 2019 annual review of accidents on all roads in South Lanarkshire identified that the A72 through Ferniegair required detailed assessment.

“Due to factors relating to accidents, this resulted in the council having discussions with the unit manager of the Safety Camera Programme.

“Following their assessment, in line with site national selection criteria, approval was granted for a mobile safety camera site.”