YOUR VIEWS: Should we look to Europe for solutions to A9 safety?
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I have driven the A9 from Perth to Inverness and back several times a year for about 60 years as a car driver and in that time it has become a pleasure to drive as opposed to frustrating and slow as when one used to be held up by long lines of slow moving vehicles.
It has recently seemed to me that the most dangerous points are at the end of the dual-carriage sections where it is often tempting to speed up and even exceed the limit to pass that last lorry or caravan before being held down to 60mph for another long stretch.
Theoretically if the whole 110 miles were dualled it would reduce the total journey time by about 26 minutes if there were no stops.
Driving it a few days ago at a steady 60mph regardless of whether I was on single or dual-carriageway I found that I was far more relaxed, my passenger more comfortable, and the journey was a pleasure not a battle.
I propose that the whole length of the present road should be limited to 60mph for a trial period of a year, that that limit be rigorously enforced, and careful note taken of the accident rate, before a final decision is taken to spend £3 billion on that rather than on more immediately beneficial projects.
For example I have just had treatment in the brand new National Treatment Centre in Inverness which was a fantastic experience, from parking to expert help and care during that remarkable morning.
I would rather have such facilities available to Scottish people than saving 26 minutes for the small proportion of people and goods that travel the whole of the A9 in one go 26 minutes more quickly.
Richard Barwell, Black Isle
Take a look at the N125 in the Algarve, Portugal. Once notorious for being one of the most dangerous (lethal) roads in Europe. Without spending fortunes on dualling and remodelling it is now one of the safest.
Installation of roundabouts to replace crossover junctions and centre carriageway posts have enabled this transformation. It just needs a little intelligence. Something that they have in abundance in Portugal but which we are woefully short of in the UK.
Richard Trendall, Fortrose
As a retired member of both the IAM and the local group I agree with the views of Ian Donaldson [Courier, July 7] regarding the A9 upgrades.
I only wish the Scottish Government would come clean and say the dualling is not going to happen and take on board Ian’s suggestions and they would make big improvements to safety.
Ian J Fraser
One very simple and cost-effective thing that could be done is to post the actual speed limits, rather than relying on drivers, mostly those visiting from other countries, knowing what the national speed limit is.
Karen Maitland, Inverness
