Ian Blackford calls for crackdown on motorhome convoys in Highlands
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Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called for a crackdown on "dangerous" motorhome convoys in the Highlands.
He also wants signs warning foreign tourists to drive on the left placed around the region - and in three languages, English, German and French.
Mr Blackford, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber is asking both the Scottish and UK governments to act - and to look at making such moves law.
His intervention comes after a spate of accidents and near misses in the Highlands where either dangerous overtaking, caused by frustration on the part of drivers following behind motorhome convoys or being on the wrong side of the road, could have been a factor.
In fact the MP was caught up in one such apparent incident on Monday.
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"This has been a long standing problem and we need to take action," he said today.
"There have been too many instances reported to me of foreign drivers forgetting to drive on the left – with obviously dangerous consequences.
"There needs to be more signs to warn and remind tourists from overseas. So much of the Highlands is a road trip, so this is a continuing problem. We welcome tourists from all over the world but we need to emphasise road safety first and foremost.
"The same goes for motorhomes. Many travel in slow-moving convoys. To put it into perspective, they equate in length and movement to advertised long loads which would normally need a police escort.
"Out roads, with limited dual carriageway and a lot of single track, are not geared up for such traffic. So I am asking both the Scottish and UK Governments to look at the issue.
"I want to see a code of conduct made statutory where rental companies must display stickers on the vehicle's windscreen to remind drivers to drive on the left and all motorhome drivers must be told not to drive in convoy. So many people have told me of near misses. This dangerous situation cannot continue."
One of the main causes of complaint is the North Coast 500 (NC500) tourism route, which has become a magnet for road trips after being publicised worldwide.
But the latest operation on the the NC500 saw one in five motorists reported for offences. Several drivers were also given safety advice.
The NC500 has been subject to constant complaints over various problems. A fifth of the route is single track.
Motorists on the NC500 are being asked to improve their driving.
Road Policing Constable Rhuaraidh Mackay said:"These proactive patrols emphasise our commitment to improving road safety across the Highlands and Islands area. All of the offences detected during these patrols contribute to collisions where people are injured, and we encourage people to use the road responsibly".
Driving offences in a central area of the North Coast 500 route have soared by almost 60% in a year, police data shows.
Sutherland makes up a large part of the scenic tourist route with 11 official stopping points, including Dornoch, Tongue, Durness and Kylesku.
However, there were 129 more offences recorded across the area in the past year.
Officers recorded 168 speeding offences from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023 – which is 47 more offences than the previous year.
In May, a warning was issued to residents in the area about dangerous driving by a group of about 30 drivers taking part in an organised NC500 road trip.
The same month, a 48-year-old man was caught driving at 117mph in a 60mph zone during a weekend crackdown.
Police say another man, 56, was detected driving at 103mph at the same time.
Chief inspector Stuart Fitzpatrick said road policing remains a focus in a report for Highland Council's Sutherland Committee.
He said: “We maintain our presence on our Highland roads, enforcing road traffic legislation, improving road safety and investigating road traffic collisions.”
One motorhome hire company previously advised its customers to avoid the NC500 after attacks on its vehicles. Two of its motorhomes had eggs and cartons of yoghurt thrown over them - and two also had tyres slashed.
Residents have frequently complained about congestion and mess left behind by cars, campervans and motorhomes across the north.
Tensions on the 516-mile road trip have escalated over the years.
In 2018 police investigated a spate of incidents on the NC500 with attempts to puncture vehicles' tyres. Roofing tacks were found scattered on a road near Bettyhill.
Police have regularly carried out operations each year, catching scores of offenders, including for speeding.
The NC500 has been hailed by various top travel publications, National Geographic and American broadcaster CNN as one of the world's greatest drives and highlighted on TV shows such as Top Gear.
It is estimated to be worth more than £22m a year to the local economy.
However, the circular route, in and out of Inverness, has been described as both a highway to hell and a road paved with gold - boosting tourism but with complaints from residents not just of speeding motorists nut, conversely, also of slow moving convoys of motor homes and long tailbacks of bikers.
