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Northern Safety Camera Partnership |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Safety Camera Partnership?When did the Partnership commence operating?
Why do we need a Partnership?
Who are the Partners?
What other Partnerships are operating?
Where are the cameras sited?
How will motorists know where these cameras are operating?
Are the cameras clearly visible?
Why were these particular locations selected?
How is the Partnership funded?
So what will happen if I am caught speeding?
Can I pay a bigger fine and avoid the points on my licence?
Will I always receive a Fixed Penalty?
What are the speed limits?
What is a Safety Camera Partnership?
This is a Road Safety initiative launched by the Government, which aims to reduce the number of road casualties by promoting safer driving within the legal speed limits. This aim will be achieved through the use of safety cameras in areas where there is a demonstrable level of collisions and speeding. The Northern Safety Camera Partnership will operate in the Highland area.
When did the Partnership commence operating?
The partnership started operating on 1st July 2004.
Why do we need a Partnership?
Over the past few years there have been numerous road deaths across the Northern Constabulary Area. The cost to the Emergency Services and NHS as a result of these collisions is enormous and in Human terms immeasurable. Community consultation, undertaken by Northern Constabulary, shows the main concern of the majority of respondents is dealing with speeding motorists. A Partnership approach has been shown to be the most successful method of dealing with this concern. Current research demonstrates a clear link between speed and personal injury collisions. Government figures suggest a 1% reduction in average speed levels will lead to a 5% reduction in casualties.
Who are the Partners?
Northern Safety Camera Partnership consists of Highland Council, Northern Constabulary, the Scottish Government, Highland & Islands Fire & Rescue service, Scottish Ambulance Service and the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal's Service.
What other Partnerships are operating?
There are seven other Partnerships operating in Scotland:
Central Scotland Safety Camera Partnershipwww.centralsafetycameras.co.uk
Dumfries and Galloway Safety Camera Partnershipwww.dumfriesandgalloway.police.uk
Fife Safety Camera Partnershipwww.fife.police.uk
Lothian and Borders Safety Camera Partnershipwww.lbsafetycameras.co.uk
North East Safety Camera Partnershipwww.nescamp.co.uk
Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnershipwww.strathclydecameras.com
Tayside Safety Camera Partnershipwww.safetayside.co.uk
Full site details of all cameras operated throughout Scotland by Safety Camera Partnerships can be found at www.scottishsafetycameras.com
Where are the cameras sited?
The Northern Safety Camera Partnership use mobile camera vans at a number of sites across the Highlands with a history of collisions and excessive speed. There are no fixed installations in the Highland area.
How will motorists know where these cameras are operating?
Details of the intended areas of enforcement will be published on a weekly basis on this web site and in the local press.
Are the cameras clearly visible?
Yes. The cameras operate from highly visible vehicles. There is also a comprehensive network of road signs advising motorists of operation of safety cameras throughout the area.
Why were these particular locations selected?
The areas of operation were selected as they fulfil the criteria of having a proven history of collisions and excessive speed.
How is the Partnership funded?
From 1 April 2007, the Partnership is funded by means of grant from the Scottish Government. This grant aid enables the individual partner bodies, within the Partnership, to recover their budgeted costs incurred in operating the safety camera service. There is no longer a link between payment of penalties issued for speeding offences and the funding of the safety cameras.
There are strict rules on how all Safety Camera Partnerships operate within the Scottish Safety Camera Programme. These rules ensure that cameras are targeted at the areas of greatest need in terms of casualty reduction and Parterships must also meet stringent operational requirements in terms of visibility, conspicuity and signage.
So what will happen if I am caught speeding?
The law states that registered keepers of vehicles photographed by safety cameras while exceeding the speed limit will receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution by mail within 14 days of the alleged offence. If the registered keeper was not the driver, further notices will be issued until the driver is in receipt of a Notice of Intended Prosecution as required by Legislation. In most cases a Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty will then be issued as an alternative to prosecution, once the identity of the driver is confirmed. This will offer an opportunity to pay a fixed sum of £60 and have three penalty points endorsed on your licence. The Fixed Penalty must be paid within 28 days of its issue date. If you are a young or recently qualified driver and you accumulate six or more penalty points within two years of passing your driving test, your driving licence will be automatically revoked by DVLA Swansea. In these circumstances you would have to re-take both the theory and practical parts of the driving test to have your licence returned. In some circumstances however, it will not be possible to issue a Conditional offer of fixed penalty. In these cases, NSCP is required to report the circumstances to the Procurator Fiscal for consideration of prosecution.
Can I pay a bigger fine and avoid the points on my licence?
No. The Conditional Offer is a prescribed alternative to prosecution. The level of monetary penalty and the points are both fixed by legislation. The choice is to accept or reject the Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty in its entirety or not.
Will I always receive a Fixed Penalty?
In the majority of cases yes, however, if your speed is above certain limits the fixed penalty may not be offered and in these instances you may be prosecuted in Court where you may be fined and have your driving licence endorsed or even be disqualified from driving. If this is to occur you will receive a summons from the Procurator Fiscal of the Court in the area where the offence is alleged to have occurred.
What are the speed limits?
The general speed limits are given in Sections 103 of the Highway Code
www.highwaycode.gov.uk
These are the general limits applicable but limits may change or be altered temporarily. These are maximum limits but circumstances may dictate that the speed at which it is safe to drive your vehicle is lower than these limits.
National Speed Limit Applies  | Built-up Areas | Single Carriage | Dual Carriage | Motorway | |
| Road Signs |  |  | |  | |
 | Cars and Motorcycles including car derived vans up to 2 tonnes maximum laden weight | |  |  | |
 | Cars Towing Caravans including car derived vans and motorcycles | |  | | |
 | Buses and Coaches not exceeding 12m in overall length | | | | |
 | Goods Vehicles between 2 and 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight | | | |  |
 | Goods Vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight | |  | | |
All speeds stated are national speed limits in miles per hour (MPH) and apply to all roads unless signs show otherwise.
The 30 mph limit applies to all traffic on roads in England and Wales (only Class C and unclassified roads in Scotland) with street lighting unless signs show otherwise)
* 60 if articulated or towing trailer
Built up areas generally have roads with street lights. Unless signed otherwise, the speed limit is always 30mph, no matter the number of lanes.
Single carriageway is an undivided road with no central reservation.
Dual carriageway is a two way divided road with a central reservation that you are able to cross from side roads.
Motorway is a two way divided road with a central barrier containing slip roads. It is only possible to access a motorway via slip roads and there is no crossway traffic.
