Hilary McNally, spokesperson for the Tayside Safety Camera Partnership, says the initial impression of enforcement officers throughout Tayside is that the majority of drivers are sticking to the legal limits.

“However, there are a minority of drivers who are continuing to drive too fast and who are putting themselves and other people at risk,” she said.

“There has been a particular instance of someone overtaking at 60mph in a 30mph zone. Driving at double the speed limit is obviously an extremely hazardous and irresponsible activity and could easily end in tragedy.

“The camera sites in Tayside have been selected because they have a history of accidents and excessive speed. It is very important for motorists to be aware of the dangers and that is why we are urging those people who are still breaking the speed limits to slow down.

“The impression from enforcement officers throughout Tayside is that the majority of drivers are responding very well to the presence of the safety cameras and are reducing their speed and sticking to the speed limits. This is good news for all road users in Tayside.

“We are also keen to remind drivers they should be driving at appropriate speeds and within the prescribed limits on all roads, and not just on those covered by the Tayside Safety Camera Partnership.

“That way we can all play our part in making it a safe Tayside for everyone.”

The Tayside Safety Camera Partnership (TSCP) brings together Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross Councils, the Scottish Executive and Tayside Police with the goal of making the roads in Tayside safer for everyone.

Supported by NHS Tayside, the Scottish Ambulance Service and Tayside Fire Brigade, TSCP aims to encourage motorists to drive within permitted speed limits through information and education and the use of safety cameras at proven collision and speeding “hot spots”.

These were determined through extensive casualty and speed analysis carried out by the TSCP. As a result 28 locations and 14 routes have been identified for mobile camera enforcement, complementing the 17 existing fixed camera locations in the area.

Drivers or registered keepers of vehicles photographed exceeding the limit will receive a notice of intended prosecution through the mail within 14 days.

In most instances, as an alternative to prosecution, a Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty Notice of £60 and an endorsement of three penalty points will be made, although if the speed detected is above certain limits the driver may be prosecuted in court, with the possibility of disqualification.

For more information on the Tayside Safety Camera visit the website at www.safetayside.co.uk

n Meanwhile, Mrs McNally said the partnership was unable to comment on claims the Government is planning to tax speeding tickets, which would add a levy of £35 to each ticket and parking fine to pay compensation to victims of crime, as the information had come from a leaked letter and was not policy.

A leaked letter to Cabinet colleagues from Home Secretary David Blunkett proposed the extra punishment to boost the £160 million-a-year criminal injuries compensation scheme, a Sunday newspaper reported.

The “victims surcharge” would also be added to fines for littering, dog fouling, graffiti, loutish and drunken behaviour, as well as fines for criminal offences.