Drivers have racked up more than 2,000 offences on the A90 during the first three months of the year – figures have revealed.

New average speed camera data shows there were a total of 2,332 offences between January 1 and March 31 on the A90 between Stonehaven and Dundee.

The figures show an increase in offences by 739 compared to the period covering October to December – though this is attributed to issues with the equipment rather than a rise in vehicle speeds.

Safety Cameras Scotland released the latest figures, which also showed 153 people were reported to the Procurator Fiscal during the first three months of the year, with a total of 1,099 fixed penalty notices, which means that the £100 penalty has generated £109,000.

It highlights a decrease in drivers being reported as between October and December there were 299 people clocked speeding.

From April 1 last year to March 31, there was a total of 9,735 overall offences, with 5,855 fixed penalty notices and 1,657 people reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

The number of penalty fines means that over the year there was a total of £585,500 collected.

Julie Smith, from the North Safety Camera Unit, said: “The A90 average speed cameras have led to a significant decrease in the number of motorists exceeding the speed limit.

“However, we are still disappointed by the number of vehicles detected and would urge motorists to drive within the speed limit at all times.

“Although there has been a rise in offences over the last two quarters, this is down to an operational equipment problem during October-December and does not suggest an increase in vehicle speeds.”

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There are 30 live cameras across the 51.5 miles of the road with the aim of helping to reduce the number of collisions.

North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said: “Average speed cameras have now been operational on the A90 between Dundee and Stonehaven for 18 months, which is long enough to assess whether they have improved safety on this busy trunk road.

“The Scottish Government should now tell us the numbers of collisions, injuries and deaths before and after the introduction of average speed cameras, so we can see if they have improved road safety in the way they were meant to do.

“I have tabled questions in the Scottish Parliament this week to get this information into the public domain.”

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “Since the installation of the £2m A90 average speed camera system, it’s clear that the system has helped to transform driver behaviour across the route.

“Before installation, 3 out of 5 vehicles were speeding on the road. We already know that 99 out of 100 vehicles now comply with the speed limit, which is a significant improvement in speed limit compliance which is also welcomed by local communities.

“While it is still too early to compile longer term accident data, which is measured across a period of 3 years, if we consider the success of the average speed camera systems on the A9 and A77 in delivering long term improvements in road safety, we are confident that similar benefits will be delivered on the A90.

“Road safety is our priority, and while the latest road casualty figures demonstrate the lowest number of casualties since records began, we are determined to make our roads even safer and work towards our ultimate vision of zero fatalities on our roads.”