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SCOTS POLICE CHIEF CAUGHT SPEEDING ON NOTORIOUS ROAD
08:50 - 31 July 2007 [Press & Journal]
The Highlands' top police officer has been caught speeding on one of the region's most dangerous roads, the Press and Journal can reveal.
Chief Constable Ian Latimer of Northern Constabulary was trapped driving at 72mph in a 60mph zone on the A9, a road where more than 60 people have died since 2002.
Yesterday Mr Latimer, a former president of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, admitted the driving offence in his own force area.
He said: "I made a mistake. On July 1st this year, in daylight on a clear open stretch of road on the A9, I miscalculated my speed, which was seen to be a maximum of 72mph within a 60mph limit."
The police chief received notice of the offence yesterday. He is expected to be given three points on his licence and a £60 fixed-penalty fine.
"I am annoyed with myself and accept full responsibility," he said. "Perhaps this will act as a warning to others. It can be seen quite rightly that the chief constable, in his own force area, is as accountable and subject to the law as any other individual."
Last night politicians and road safety campaigners said the incident proved Mr Latimer, who has served as head of the north force for six years, is not above the law.
But Norman Macleod, chairman of the Northern Joint Police Board, who described the incident as "unfortunate" rather than a serious matter, said the board would be taking the matter no further.
He added: "It's unfortunate for him and for the police that he was in that situation but we can't turn the clock back. He broke the law and he has to pay the price like anyone else."
Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign, based at Tain, said it proved that speed cameras have not made roads any safer.
"Something is clearly wrong," he said. "Are we to believe that our chief constable is an irresponsible driver?
"The truth is that none of us drive without exceeding the speed limit from time to time. Perhaps Mr Latimer will finally realise how important it is to target police resources at unsafe, rather than technically illegal, behaviours?
"The truth is that speed cameras catch ordinary, safe and responsible drivers while risky drivers are usually undetected. That's why speed cameras haven't made our roads safer."
Both Communities Safety Minister Fergus Ewing and Highland Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon admitted that they too had been caught speeding.
Mr Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, said: "I think we should recognise and applaud the chief constable as he has been completely candid in stating that he is angry with himself for this rare lapse.
"As someone who has had speeding offences in the past like the chief constable is now, I too am very much aware of the inherent risks of speeding."
Ms Scanlon said driving on the trunk road was a "frustrating experience".
She added: "When there is an opportunity to pick up speed, if only to keep up with the rest of the drivers, most people take advantage of it.
"I hope that the chief constable will be fined £60 and have three penalty points added to his licence like all the other mortals who drive too fast. I also hope that he will support the campaign to have the A9 dualled."
Eighteen people have died on roads in the Highlands since the beginning of the year, including four on the A9. It is unknown how many can be attributed to speeding drivers.
Research has shown that the Highland force area has the highest fatal accident rate per vehicle mile in Scotland.
Northern Constabulary has pointed to three contributory factors to the death rate - drink-driving, a failure to wear seatbelts and inappropriate speed
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