A90 average speed cameras this month

THE Scottish Government hopes the introduction of average speed cameras on the A90 will help to address a worrying increase in deaths on the nation’s roads.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf has promised to have the system fully operational by the end of this month.

The pledge came as new figures revealed the number of people killed in accidents on Scotland’s roads rose to 191 in 2016 — an increase of 14% compared with the previous year.

There was also a significant increase in the number of people seriously injured, up 6% to 1,697, while there were 1,000 child casualties.

The figures mar an overall picture that saw roads casualties fall by 1% between 2015 and 2016, from 10,973 to 10,901 – the lowest number since records began.

Police Scotland quarterly figures for 2017, while still subject to revision, show that a further 64 people were killed in the first six months.

That is down significantly on 2016, when 95 fatalities were recorded, and could be evidence that action taken nationally and l ocally to improve safety is working.

Nonetheless, Mr Yousaf said the increase in fatalities was “disappointing” — although Scotland is on track to hit road safety targets — and pledged further action. The minister said the impact of the average speed cameras introduced on the A9 was evidence that meaningful changes could be achieved.