Fines from speed cameras have fallen by as much as one fifth in some areas of Scotland, it has been revealed.
Motoring groups believe that drivers are becoming more aware of camera sites and adjusting their speed, while officials claim that drivers are simply sticking to limits.
The figures reveal that the number of drivers being caught by cameras has fallen for the third year in a row in some areas of Scotland, but there has been no reduction in enforcement efforts, the Scotsman has revealed.
Recently there has been a push in Scotland, as in other parts of the UK, for a reduction in speed limits on some routes.
Also despite the reductions in fines the authorities are now increasing camera sites and enforcement activity.
Jim Dale, the director of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme, said cameras had proved to cut crashes.
He said: ‘There has been a fall in speeding fines detected by cameras because of better adherence to the speed limits by drivers.’
But anti-camera groups have challenged such figures, claiming that crash rates reduce naturally after a spate – a phenomenon known as ‘regression to mean’.
Bruce Young, the Lothian and Borders co-ordinator of the Association of British Drivers, said: ‘Drivers are increasingly aware of both fixed and mobile camera locations.’