Campaigners battling to overturn the decision to install average speed cameras along the length of the A9 have launched an online petition.
The petition on the Scottish Parliament website attracted hundreds of signatures within a few hours and will remain open until December 20.
The cost of installing average speed cameras along the 136-mile stretch of the A9 from Dunblane to Inverness has been put at £2.5 million and the Scottish Government is adamant that it will cut serious accidents on the notorious road.
The proposed system, which could be operational by summer next year, caused a storm of protest among many users of the road particularly HGV drivers.
The petition has been lodged by leading opponent Mike Burns on behalf of the group Average Speed Cameras on the A9 Are Not The Answer. They claim the evidence to back up the measure is flawed and that the matter should be debated.
“The A9 Safety Group recently proposed an average speed camera system on the A9 in order to reduce fatalities,” reads the petition.
“This group believes this is the incorrect decision based on official statistics which show that breaking the speed limit accounts for only 2% of accidents on the A9, whereas overtaking manoeuvres account for nearly 50% of A9 accidents.
“We believe there should be a full parliamentary debate on the proposal along with the reformation of the A9 Safety Group to allow representation from car drivers, who make up over 95% of A9 road users, yet have not been involved in an A9 Safety Group meetings.”