Catching 20mph speeders 'not a priority' - Police Scotland

Mobile cameras will be deployed in Leith next month to catch 20mph speeders . Picture: Safety Cameras Scotland

Enforcing planned Scotland-wide 20mph limits would not be a priority for Police Scotland, its roads chief told MSPs today.

The comment came as it was revealed that speed camera vans will be deployed to enforce Edinburgh's 20mph zones for the first time next month.

Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, the force's head of road policing, was giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament's rural economy and connectivity committee on a member's bill for a default 20mph limit on most 30mph roads in Scotland with street lighting.

Mr Carle said: "I would have concerns that the bill seeks to impose 20mph as a blanket

"20mph will not be a priority.

"The majority of casualties are on higher-speed roads.

"I must prioritise where there is the biggest impact.

"Suddenly switching a lot of resources from faster roads would not give the same gain."

"Mobile safety camera units are not calibrated for 20mph."

Mr Carle also said mobile speed camera vans could not currently detect drivers breaking 20mph limits.

However, East Safety Camera Unit manager Andy Jones told The Scotsman this was incorrect and they could detect speeds of 20-30mph.

Mr Jones said a van would be deployed in Ocean Drive in Leith from the first week of April for three months to enforce the 20mph limit.