Meeting minutes - 5 November 2025 - A9 Safety Group

Attendees

  • Fiona Hyslop MSP – Cabinet Secretary for Transport
  • Craig Peaston – Private Office
  • Stuart Wilson – Transport Scotland – Roads Operations
  • Morag MacKay – Transport Scotland – Roads Operations (TEAMS)
  • Vince Tait – Transport Scotland – Roads Operations
  • Graeme Paget – Transport Scotland – Roads Operations
  • Jonny Moran – Transport Scotland – Major Projects (TEAMS)
  • David McKenzie – Transport Scotland – Roads Operations
  • Stuart Fraser – Transport Scotland – Roads Operations (Minutes)
  • Michael McDonnell – Road Safety Scotland
  • Insp Hugh Niccolls – Police Scotland – TS liaison
  • Eric Dunion – Safety Cameras Scotland (North)
  • Kevin McKechnie – BEAR Scotland North West
  • Stuart Geddes – BEAR Scotland North West
  • Evan Ferguson – Amey North East (TEAMS)
  • Lisa MacKellaich – The Highland Council (TEAMS)
  • Alexandra Herdman – Logistics UK (TEAMS)

Apologies

  • Colin Simpson – Cairngorms National Park Authority
  • Insp Donnie MacKinnon – Police Scotland – North Command (rep by Insp Niccolls)
  • Martin Reid – Road Haulage Association
  • Craig Daly – Perth & Kinross Council
  • Stewart Mackie – IAM RoadSmart
  • CI Richard Ross – Police Scotland – North Command
  • Michael Grant – Police Scotland – East Safety Camera Unit
  • Paul White – Confederation for Passenger Transport
  • Grant Campbell – Prosper
  • Matthew Welch – Perth & Kinross Council
  • Daryl McKeown – Perth & Kinross Council

Welcome and Introductions

Welcome extended to all attendees from Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP.

Opening remarks

Ms Hyslop highlighted the role of the group and how it demonstrates the collaborative effort and scale of work involved commenting that it is important to consider how the partnership moves forward, bringing everyone together to deliver on our Road Safety Framework. Ms Hyslop also stated that she was raising key road safety issues such as driving licencing to her counterpart in UK government. She acknowledged the benefits being realised by the short term measures especially at junctions.

A9 Safety Performance Update

Inspector Niccolls provided an update on fatal collisions and Police activity. Since the last meeting in May there have been three fatal collisions resulting in four fatalities compared with ten fatalities in 2024. One of the three collisions occurred between Perth and Inverness at The Slochd on 15 September with the other two occurring north of Inverness. Investigations into these incidents are still ongoing.

The A9 continues to be a priority route for Police Scotland with a total of 2699 drivers stopped and engaged with between April and September. Inspector Niccolls gave an overview of the types and number of offences coming to light as a result of these checks and explained that the Police activity included a number of initiatives with partners such as local policing, the DVSA, safety camera units and the Highland Council.

Ms Hyslop commented on the volume and range of offences and Insp Niccolls agreed that social media posts to highlight the enforcement work had an impact on driver behaviour and was positively received.

Ms Hyslop commented that if fatigue was a factor then efforts could be made to support improved rest facilities along the route.

Update on A9 investment

Stuart Wilson confirmed that the Short Term Measures between Perth and Inverness were now complete and that consideration would be given to employing the same measures elsewhere on the trunk road network. He also advised that consideration was being given to camera technology which could detect other offences which contribute to injury collisions such as non-seatbelt wearing and use of mobile phones while driving.

Vince Tait advised that the annual road safety review process would continue to be used to identify locations for further investigation and potential improvement. These include junctions in Inverness and at Dunkeld/Birnam.

Michael McDonnell advised there were no A9 specific campaigns planned but that the national campaign programme was intended to reach all road users. The drive on the left campaign concluded in September and planning is already underway for 2026 including engagement with the BVRLA and Police Scotland. The motorcycle campaign has been changed to run year round and the speed campaign is currently ongoing along with a fitness to drive campaign. The latter included offers of a driver assessment provided by IAM Roadsmart for which there has been a good uptake. The festive drink and drug drive campaign will commence to align with Police Scotland campaign activity in December/January and the year concludes with a distraction campaign in February/March 2026.

Kevin McKechnie confirmed that the short term engineering measures announced in December 2022 have now been completed. He went on to outline a number of road safety investigations which have been undertaken including:

  • A9 Trinafour junction video survey undertaken to identify occurrences of any vehicles travelling the wrong-way along the A9. Report prepared and identified several incidents involving vehicles travelling south from junction onto A9 NB carriageway.
  • Ralia junction vehicle video turning survey. Report issued to Transport Scotland. Minor observations with drivers using the ghost island as part of a 2-step exit from the minor road. Repeat Survey was undertaken in August 2024 which identified similar occurrences. Some minor remedial measures may help to reduce the risk.
  • A9 Dalnaspidal Junction – ARSR investigation. Review of collisions along a section of the A9 to the immediate north of the Drumochter duals which includes Dalnaspidal junction. Report completed and made a number of recommendations which will be taken forward in next year’s design programme
  • A9 Dunkeld and Inver Junction – Investigation to identify potential improvements to junction layout to improve road safety and operational capability of the junction. Traffic modelling work to assess a roundabout option has been concluded. Further option for Traffic Signalisation to be undertaken.
  • A9 House of Bruar junction – video traffic survey undertaken at junction to evaluate numbers of vehicles turning out of the A9 junction to travel north. The junction is to be investigated this year as a Moving Cursor Site;
  • Annual Road Safety Review led investigations ongoing at a number of locations including A9 Tomich Junction, A9 Croy to Fort Augustus junctions, A9 Ardullie to Evanton route and A9 Lynwilg junction.

Ms Hyslop invited comments on this work and also the roll out of 20mph limits on some sections of the route north of Inverness. Lisa MacKellaich commented that The Highland Council has been heavily involved in the roll out of 20 limits on their roads and that the experience was positive with data indicating a reduction speeds and injury collisions. Monitoring will continue and Road Safety Improvement Funding is being used to enhance signage at gateways to towns and villages.

Evan Ferguson reported a reduction in injuries on the section between Dunblane and Perth and that this section presented different challenges to the rest of the route. Activity is focussed on investigations at Keir and Broxden roundabouts as they have similar issues. This has included drone and video surveys with a report currently being drafted for Transport Scotland.

Update from wider group members

Graeme Paget mentioned that there is a meeting on Friday this week, to discuss a request for a overbridge to be installed to provide pedestrian crossing access over the A9 near to the new Cross Tay Link road section.

A9 dualling update

Jonny Moran provided an update on the progress of the various dualling projects. The Tomatin to Moy project is pushing ahead with the next section between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig about to commence. All other sections are progressing on schedule with land acquisition and procurement activity ongoing. Details of progress on all the projects can be accessed via the dedicated website - A9 Dualling Perth to Inverness.

A number of overarching A9 forums have been established to develop consistent approaches for future projects, including applying lessons learned. These include a Traffic Management forum to help learn and share lessons as work progresses including safety through the works and in sections in between. Major events occurring during the works will also be considered.

AOB

Ms Hyslop raised the issue of diversions when serious incidents require the road to be closed acknowledging that this was an issue that affected all of the trunk roads. Issues have been experienced with drivers not adhering to the standard incident diversion routes and “self-diverting” sometimes on to road not suitable for their call of vehicle. Ms Hyslop asked what could be done to address this and Insp Niccolls clarified that diversion routes were not mandatory in law but in some cases actions could be considered to be careless or dangerous driving.

It was commented that diversion signage should include messaging not to follow sat nav systems.

Alexandra Herdman offered to assist discussions on this topic as it relates to the road freight sector and to share any messages with members and Ms Hyslop asked that this offer be taken up by officials.

Lisa MacKellaich advised that Road Safety Improvement Funds were being used to improve junctions on their local roads near to the A9. Ms Hyslop commended this type of partnership working and said that she would be keen to hear what other local authorities are doing on this topic.

Conclusion and next steps

Ms Hyslop thanked those present for attending and for their continued efforts on road safety the benefits of which are being realised.

Back to top

Published Date 5 Nov 2025 Type Mode of transport Topic