There was a sharp rise on the daily average of just over £1400 over the previous nine months, and campaigners today accused the organisation of “squeezing until the pips squeak”.

“The road death figures for Dundee and Angus are appalling — they’re out of control,” said Eamon Scott, Tayside co-ordinator of the Association of British Drivers.

“What this all does is conceals a secret massive cut in the number of traffic police — a cut of about 40-45% across Scotland.

“That’s why road deaths are going up, because they are replacing real balanced road policing with automated policing which looks only at speed.

“It’s about making money rather than spending money. Now they’re turning up the ratchet and squeezing until the pips squeak.”

Tayside Safety Camera Partnership involves the three councils of Dundee, Angus and Perth & Kinross, the Scottish Executive and Tayside Police, with support from NHS Tayside, Tayside Fire Brigade and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

The Government-backed scheme aims to cut road deaths and serious injuries by placing cameras at sites “with a history of collisions and evidence of speeding”.

This week, for example, there are mobile cameras on the roads between Brechin, Montrose and Arbroath as well as the “normal” enforcement on the A9 and A90.

None of the partners can make a profit from the project, which recoups only its operating costs. Any surplus then goes to the Treasury.

Commenting on the revenue figures, the partnership said there could be a decrease during the current financial year as their message gets across to drivers.

TSCP communications officer Louise Turner said, “The partnership was established in July, 2003, and the 2003/2004 figures refer only to nine months of enforcement during that financial year.

“In addition, when the partnership was initially formed, it took several months to train staff. Subsequently, the figures for 2003/2004 cannot be compared to those in 2004/2005, which represent a full year of safety camera activity in Tayside.

“Tayside Safety Camera Partnership fully expects these figures to remain stable or even decrease in 2005/2006 as a result of successful education and awareness campaigns.”

Across Scotland, fines paid by motorists caught on camera have rocketed over the past five years — with the total amount recouped during that period just under £20 million.

— During 2004/05 Fife Constabulary brought in almost half a million pounds from speed cameras.

In that time, 8208 drivers were fined a fixed penalty of £60, generating total revenue of £492,480 — an average of just over £1300 a day.