Scotland, Highlands: A9 Under The Microscope—what Drivers Must Do Until Full Dualling Arrives

Published on August 26, 2025

Visitors drawn to nan Highlands’ big‑sky scenery often meet it via nan A9, nan spine roadworthy betwixt Inverness and Perth. It is beautiful, but it tin beryllium unforgiving. Over nan past decade, media tallies propose 48 group person been killed connected this stretch, underscoring why visitors and business travellers alike now scheme A9 journeys pinch other care.

What nan charismatic information shows (2021–2025)

Recently released authorities figures corroborate really terrible nan caller years person been. A Freedom of Information merchandise summarised fatalities connected nan A9 arsenic 3 successful 2021/22, 13 successful 2022/23, and 1 successful 2023/24 (to date), alongside serious‑injury collisions each year. Opposition study of those FOI information reported much than 300 wounded collisions complete nan past 4 years, a header uncovering that has kept nan way successful Scotland’s nationalist news.

Average‑speed cameras person been successful spot betwixt Dunblane and Inverness since 2014; Transport Scotland’s multi‑year monitoring reported important reductions successful fatal and superior casualties connected nan camera‑enforced corridor compared pinch nan pre‑camera baseline. That long‑running enforcement remains 1 of nan fewer proven mitigations while engineering upgrades await completion.

Where nan task stands now

The Scottish Government’s transportation scheme now anticipates completing nan A9 Dualling Perth–Inverness programme by the extremity of 2035. More elaborate programme documents bespeak a phased opening: astir 50% dualled by end‑2030, astir 85% by end‑2033, and 100% by 2035. New procurement and building milestones person been announced this summer, but nan wide extremity day remains 2035.

Officials person besides stated they are considering whether parts of nan activity tin beryllium fast‑tracked—for illustration by bringing guardant definite “advance works” up of nan main contracts—while further interim information measures (better markings, junction improvements and campaigns) are pursued.

Politics and accountability

Parliament has examined nan delays successful depth. Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told a Holyrood enquiry she was sorry nan 2025 promise could not beryllium met, pointing to transportation challenges; nan parliamentary grounds shows continuing scrutiny of programme governance and timescales. Meanwhile, nan Scottish Conservatives person based on nan activity should beryllium accelerated via emergency authorities to compress procurement and consenting. Travellers don’t request nan governmental back‑and‑forth—but they do request clarity connected timelines and connected today’s risks.

What this intends for visitors and business travellers

• Journey reliability: Single‑carriageway sections remain; expect platoons down HGVs and sporadic overtaking opportunities. Allow wider buffers betwixt meetings aliases circuit timings.
• Enforcement & behaviour: Average‑speed cameras proceed to run connected agelong sections. Consistent velocity compliance is essential; “sprint past slow” strategies tin lead to penalties and risk.
• Seasonal hazards: Weather, wildlife and tourer peaks complicate matters—especially northbound of Perth and crossed nan Cairngorms.
• Budget & information campaigns: Government gathering minutes bespeak a planned uplift to a grounds £48m for road‑safety activity successful 2025/26 (subject to fund processes), signalling accrued campaigns, section improvements and enforcement.

Quick facts & cardinal points for travellers

• Most superior caller year: 2022/23 recorded nan highest caller fatalities connected this route.
• Dualling timeline: Phased openings done 2030/33, completion by end‑2035 (official plan).
• Enforcement: Longstanding average‑speed camera corridor since 2014 pinch documented casualty reductions.
• Live info: Use Traffic Scotland for incidents, upwind and cameras earlier you group off.
• Visitors caller to UK roads: Scotland’s charismatic guidance emphasises driving connected nan left; publication it earlier hiring a car.

Step‑by‑step: readying a safer A9 travel (tourists & business)

1. Check conditions and works: On nan greeting of travel, reappraisal Traffic Scotland for incidents, planned roadworks and camera feeds; re‑check earlier return legs.
2. Build successful slack: Add 20–40 minutes to itinerary buffers (more successful wintertime aliases highest vacation weeks).
3. Know your enforcement: Treat nan agelong camera‑enforced sections arsenic average‑speed zones; thrust smoothly and debar tailgating.
4. Plan substance & remainder stops: Pre‑pick stops (e.g., Pitlochry, House of Bruar, Aviemore). Fatigue multiplies consequence connected single‑carriageway segments.
5. Prepare for weather: If snow, precocious winds aliases dense rainfall are forecast, reschedule wherever possible; cheque wintertime advisories.
6. If caller to left‑hand driving: Review Road Safety Scotland’s visitant advice, group your sat‑nav earlier moving off, and repetition a “keep left” mantra aft substance aliases photograph stops.
7. Consider alternatives: For tight schedules, nan Highland Main Line (rail) betwixt Perth and Inverness tin beryllium a calmer choice; taxis aliases transfers astatine each extremity support meetings intact.
8. Mind junctions: Several right‑turns crossed oncoming postulation exist. If successful doubt, proceed to a safer turning point.

Impact connected business recreation and leisure tourism

• Business travellers tin look missed connections and precocious arrivals erstwhile platooning aliases incidents occur. Using obstruction for time‑critical legs and scheduling meetings adjacent stations (Perth, Pitlochry, Aviemore, Inverness) reduces consequence vulnerability and improves productivity.
• Leisure visitors whitethorn find nan thrust scenic yet stressful. Allowing clip for safe, ineligible overtakes (or nary astatine all) and readying short section day‑trips from a guidelines tin sphere vacation enjoyment.

Extra tips to support trips smooth

• Hire‑car briefing: Ask rental desks for left‑hand driving leaflets aliases wrist reminders (many providers now collaborate pinch information campaigns).
• Pack daylight: Aim to complete agrarian sections successful daylight, particularly if you’re jet‑lagged aliases unfamiliar pinch UK roadworthy markings.
• Respect passing places: On connecting insignificant roads, usage passing places courteously to debar risky squeezes.

What happens next?

Transport Scotland says procurement and building will proceed successful stages toward 2035, pinch astir half nan way expected to beryllium dualled by 2030 and dependable gains thereafter. While authorities statement transportation pace, travellers coming should enactment connected charismatic guidance, show unrecorded conditions, and scheme conservatively. Safer journeys mean holidays that commencement relaxed and meetings that decorativeness connected time