A road safety scheme dubbed Britain's longest speed trap is being credited with halving the number of deaths on a 32-mile stretch of the A77 in Ayrshire.
In the three years that average speed cameras have been operating between Ayr and Girvan, road deaths have fallen from 13 to seven.
The total number of casualties dropped by 30% and the total accident rate was down by 19%.
The figures have been released by the A77 Safety Group.
Before the Speed Enforcement Camera System (Specs) was introduced, 52 road users were seriously injured in 2002-2005.
In the three years that followed, that figure dropped to 34.
"Specs has clearly played a key part in reducing accident numbers and that is why the cameras will remain in place now that the pilot period is complete"Hugh McCafferty, of Transport Scotland, and chairman of the A77 Safety Group, said the figures were "very good".
"Specs has clearly played a key part in reducing accident numbers and that is why the cameras will remain in place now that the pilot period is complete.
"As ever, the most critical element in road safety is always the behaviour of road users and we recognise the significant efforts of the safety group partners for their continued work in enforcement, engineering and education."
The average speed cameras cover the stretch of the A77 between Bogend Toll, south of Kilmarnock, to Ardwell Bay, south of Girvan.
The A77 Safety Group said that there had been a "significant increase" in the number of people breaking the 50 mph speed limit since it was introduced between Bogend and Dutch House for safety reasons in March 2008.
The group said this was "a matter of concern" and it would continue to work to reduce speeding.
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