Seven drivers a day who exceed the 40mph speed limit on the Fife side of the Forth road bridge are picking up at least three penalty points and a £60 fine.
Although there are no average speed cameras on the bridge itself, where the limit is 50mph, they were installed on the Fife side approach to the crossing some time ago to protect construction staff working on the new replacement bridge.
A Transport Scotland’s Forth Replacement Crossing team, spokesperson, said:
“This traffic management is an essential part of minimising the FRC project’s construction impact on journey times and public safety.
“These works are essential for the upgrade of M9 junction 1a, which is vital to the wider FRC scheme.
“The 40mph speed limit and average speed cameras will help ensure a steady flow of traffic and help maintain the safety of the travelling public and contractors working on the site.”
Average speed cameras measure the time it takes for a car to travel between two points – experts say driver speed limit compliance is significantly higher as a result.
To date the worst offender was flashed flying past the yellow-coloured cameras at 73mph – nearly double the sign posted speed limit. Some drivers have clearly yet to register the fact that the speed cameras are up and running and have been caught several times – one vehicle has been caught speeding three times, while four other cars have been detected twice.
A spokesperson for Lothian and Borders Safety Camera Partnership who operate the system, said:
“There is no excuse for exceeding the speed limit at these roadworks.
“It is vitally important that motorists comply with the reduced speed limit for their own safety, as well as for the safety of others.”
Drivers themselves are frustrated at having to drive at 30mph below the usual speed limit, over a distance of several miles on both sides of the bridge, straight after the often challenging task of making it across the bridge – made even more irritating with heavy rush hour traffic that can already cause significant delays.
Cameras have also been installed on junction 1a of the M9 at in preparation for the large number of construction workers and their vehicles involved in the Forth Replacement Crossing project.
The cameras will be in place until the spring of 2013.