POLICE in Helensburgh recorded nearly 90 road offences in three months from February to April, a report has revealed.
Officers issued 56 penalty notices during the period for speeding, while 20 road users were charged with driving carelessly and without due consideration.
A further 10 people were charged with driving while unfit through drink or drugs, officers have reported ahead of a meeting of community figures and councillors.
The figures, which run from Sunday, February 1 to Tuesday, April 28, feature in a report to Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond community planning group for its meeting on Tuesday, May 12.
It is also confirmed that safety cameras will be restored on the A82, as reported recently by Transport Scotland for another meeting. They are expected to go live next month.
A police spokesperson said: “The number of fatal RTCs (road traffic collisions) recorded in Argyll and Bute has seen a notable reduction from eight to three across our recording year.
“Police efforts to drive down the number of people killed and seriously injured on our road’s focus on enforcement of the law, prevention through education and early intervention, and proactive, visible deterrents.
“The increase in road traffic offences is testament to the proactive and targeted response of both local policing teams and our specialist colleagues. Our national road policing division proactively patrol the roads network, respond to emergency incidents, assume the role of investigating officer at serious and fatal road collisions and support local policing.
“Our national unit are imbedded into local police stations across Argyll providing us with access to our specialist support.
“One recent addition is that we have 10 road policing officers accredited by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), in the identification of suspect stolen motor vehicles and plant equipment. These officers are all aligned to road policing shifts across the country and are available to provide advice and guidance as well as attending to carry out examinations.”
The report added: “Our national motorcycle unit continue to deploy across Argyll enforcing road traffic legislation, responding to major incidents and assisting with incidents on the strategic road network.
“Our national motorcycle safety campaign started in March and runs through till September. This campaign is vital and our continued visible presence influences driver and road users’ behaviour.
“The safety cameras on the A82 are being reintroduced in the coming weeks. This is a welcome return on a notorious section of our roads networks which sees a massive rise in vehicular traffic over the summer months. It is anticipated that these will be going live in June.
“Our officers locally have received an awareness session from the British Horse Society where they had in person presentations raising awareness and concerns from horse riders.
“Our recent road safety event in Helensburgh was a tremendous success with a great level of community interest and involvement.”
