Highland police urged to increase patrols on NC500 after three-day crackdown snares numerous speeders
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OVERSTRETCHED officers are unable to "adequately" police dangerous speeding on the North Coast 500, a worried local MP fears after the force's latest crackdown snared some drivers doing up to 117mph.
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone believes Scottish Government budget restraints are hamstringing the Highland force, and has urged Holyrood to work on a solution to the problem that "really keeps local people safe" after a flurry of residents urged police to step up the number and frequency of their patrols on the North Coast 500.
Residents made their pleas in response to the force's latest action, which covered a brief three-day window from Friday to Sunday – and yet snared 17 offenders and sparked verbal warnings for 24 others.
Locals fear the latest crackdown is just scratching the surface of the issue and worry that the route is being used as a "race track" by too many visitors to the region.
Related: Motorist caught doing 117mph during three-day police crackdown on North Coast 500 drivers
The police's latest crackdown, which appears to have included use of unmarked cars, targeted a number of spots, including the A835 to the north-east of Ardmair in Wester Ross.
And the number caught over the brief three-day action has left residents reeling – with some arguing that this would equate to roughly 2000 criminal offenders if police carried out similar patrols every day over the course of an entire year.
Muriel Eaton was among those to call for more patrols, responding to the police's statement by saying: "The police need to be out on the NC500 more often considering the amount of fatalities and accidents on the route last year."
Diane Langdon agreed: "Frightening living on a race track isn’t it? Perhaps there should be officers allocated there permanently?"
And Jamie Sawyer aired the same concerns, posting: "A one off. Surely this needs to be a regular once a week outing for the police."
Others remarked over the number snared in just three days – with 11 motorists being reported to the procurator fiscal for offences, six others being fined, and 24 given verbal warnings regarding their speed or other infringements.
Liz Beth said: "In three days? Imagine that over a week."
MP Jamie Stone said policing of the roads "remains a massive issue" but fears the force does not have the resources to adequately tackle the problem, and has urged the Scottish Government to hold talks with the team behind the NC500 company as well as campervan rental companies, and to then "come back with a solution that really keeps local people safe".
He said: "I fear that owing to Scottish Government budgetary constraints, Police Scotland simply do not have the resources to adequately police the NC500.
"We know for sure that there is a problem with speeding and the sheer weight of traffic. The roads are an utter mess - which for speeding cars is actually quite a godsend as it probably slows them down in parts - but no consideration is given to other road users and locals just trying to make their daily commute to work.
"While the motorhome rental companies and tourism businesses benefit from NC500, the fact remains that policing and the condition of the roads remains a massive issue.
"I believe that the Scottish Government needs to talk to all concerned, including campervan rental companies and the NC500 company itself, and then come back with a solution that really keeps local people safe."
The 11 motorists facing charges following the police's weekend campaign included a 48-year-old male caught doing 117mph in a 60mph limit, and a 56-year-old man who was seen driving at 103mph in a 60mph area.
Other offenders included drivers with no MOT, vehicles in a dangerous condition and speeding.
Road Policing Constable Steve Taylor said: “These proactive patrols highlight our commitment to improving road safety across the Highland and Islands. These patrols aim to reassure communities that we are responding to their concerns whilst improving road safety and reducing collisions.
"All of the offences detected during these patrols contribute to collisions where people are injured, and we encourage people to use the road responsibly."
The force was approached for response to residents' calls for increased patrols. Inspector Donald Mackinnon, of the Highland and Islands Road Policing Unit, said : “Road safety is a priority for Police Scotland. We regularly patrol the road network and local communities to keep the public safe and influence driver behaviour with a view to reducing casualties.
"This is the latest in a number of targeted operations that we have carried out in the Highland and Islands and we have more planned in the weeks and months ahead. I appeal to all road users to make safe and sensible decisions and think carefully about their actions when using the road network.”
