A new average speed camera system, running from Dunblane to Inverness, is to be installed on the A9, Transport Scotland has said.

The system will help to improve safety on the road, and Transport Minister Keith Brown is to visit one of the area that will benefit from the scheme today.

He will visit Blackford and will be accompanied by Superintendent Iain Murray from Police Scotland and Michael McDonnell, Director of Road Safety Scotland.

The decision to introduce the system follows an on-going review of evidence as well as careful consideration of the views of members of the A9 Safety Group over the last year.

The A9 system will be the second for Scotland, after the first was installed on the A77 in Ayrshire between Bogend Toll and Ardwell Bay in 2005. Since its installation, the project has delivered a 46% reduction in fatal accidents and a 35% reduction in serious accidents.

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The camera system will support a number of measures that have been introduced on the A9 in a bid to improve safety in recent years. Since 2007, more than £50m has been invested in safety and structural improvements on the route, including improved consistency of signing and lining, improved geometry and safety barrier works as well as variable messaging signs displaying journey times.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "The A9 is one of Scotland's most important routes, linking Inverness to the rest of the country and it is extremely important that it is as safe as possible for all road users.

"The A9 Safety Group has recommended that an average speed camera system is introduced to help cut down on the number of accidents and Transport Scotland will now take this forward.

"While the Scottish Government believes that dualling will be the long-term solution to the safety issues on the A9 - we are the first administration committed to making the road dual carriageway all the way from Perth to Inverness a reality - we also want to make the immediate improvements that will bring positive changes to driver behaviour.

"Average speed cameras systems have a proven track record of reducing casualties and excessive speed and their high visibility leads to better compliance of the speed limit.

"We hope to see the first of the cameras introduced early next year and expect the system to be fully operational in the Summer of 2014."

(JP/MH)