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Foreign drivers escape speeding fines on north of Scotland roads

Average speed cameras on the A9
Average speed cameras on the A9

Hundreds of foreign motorists caught speeding on north and north-east roads over a 12-month period have escaped punishment.

The authorities in Scotland cannot prosecute the owners of vehicles with non-UK registration plates, which meant 199 people caught on cameras in Grampian between August 2013 and July 2014 were not fined.

One driver was caught travelling at 108mph in a 70mph limit section of the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen road at Mill of Forest, near Stonehaven.

A total of 131 offences were reported in the Highlands and Islands area over the same time period.

The highest speed recorded was 99mph in a 60mph limit area of the A9 between Inverness and Thurso near Golspie.

It is likely that not all offenders are tourists because some people who drive cars registered in countries like Poland and Latvia live and work in the north and north-east.

Road safety campaigner Dave Stewart, a Highland MSP, said he was “surprised” to learn law breakers cannot be pursued because cars with foreign plates are not registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

“I shall we raising this issue with UK ministers because we need to fill this gap in the system,” he added.

“This is a road safety issue and people should have to comply with the speed limit in all European countries they are driving in.”

Transport Scotland said average speed cameras on the A9 between Inverness and Dunblane were capable of detecting vehicles with foreign licence plates but the Scottish Government had no power to pursue these drivers.

The figures showed that foreign motorists escaped 4,073 speeding offences across Scotland over the period in question.

A total of 3,182 offences were recorded in the Lothian and borders area.

Neil Greig, director of policy at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “The high numbers of foreign speeders on our roads show how important it is that Scotland joins up with the rest of Europe to harmonise motoring offences and give the police extra powers to pursue dangerous drivers.

“Progress on this issue has been very slow and in the meantime thousands of drivers are avoiding fines and bans simply because their cars cannot be easily traced.”

Chief Superintendent Iain Murray, head of road policing in Scotland said his officers “actively target risk taking behaviours by foreign drivers” as part of their daily duties.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Both vehicle registration and speeding offences are currently reserved matters.

“As part the Scottish Government’s submission to the Smith Commission we included a proposal for full responsibility for the law covering road traffic offences to be devolved to Scotland.

“The decision to pursue the driver of a foreign registered vehicle is a matter for Police Scotland.”