SCOTLAND’S transport minister says the idea of installing safety cameras on the A82 along Loch Lomondside is “under consideration” – but that it’s too early to say whether they will be introduced.

Michael Matheson revealed that a ‘site prioritisation’ process for new safety cameras across Scotland has recently begun, and that the trunk road between Balloch and Tarbet is one of the locations being assessed.

Mr Matheson was responding to a plea from Helensburgh and Lomond MSP Jackie Baillie after a 99-year-old woman died in a head-on crash between a car and a minibus on the A82 near Luss in March - the ninth person to be killed in an accident on the trunk road between Arden and Tarbet since 2014.

READ MORE: Serious accident closes A82 near Luss

Mr Matheson said: “Safety cameras are deployed through the Scottish Safety Camera Programme primarily where they have the greatest potential to reduce injury collisions and where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding.

“Safety camera sites are identified in accordance with national criteria which aims to ensure the right technology is in the right place at the right time.

“The 2018 safety camera site prioritisation process did consider the A82. However, there were no sites on that route which met both the collision and speed criteria requirements.

“The 2019 site prioritisation process has recently commenced, and while it is too early to advise on the outcomes I can confirm that sections of the A82 are once again under consideration.”

READ MORE: Biker dies in second fatal A82 crash near Loch Lomond

Mr Matheson also said Police Scotland had run a ‘road casualty reduction campaign’, involving the use of mobile cameras at five locations on the A82 between Luss and Tarbet, from February 11-17 in a bid to improve the behaviour of motorists on the route.