THE number of speeding offences recorded across West Dunbartonshire has jumped by more than 130 cases – despite three months worth of data for 2019/20 not being released.

According to official Police Scotland figures, a total of 313 speeding offences took place between April 2018 and March 2019 within the local authority.

But this number jumped to 443 for 2019/20, despite the data only taking into account offences recorded from April-December 2019. The figures for quarter four (January-March) have not yet been made public.

Overall, speeding offences recorded have fallen dramatically since 2013/2014, when there were 1,107.

This then fell to 547 in 2014/15 and went up to 661 the following year, before falling again to 488 in 2016/17 and 331 in 2017/18.

Figures include people being stopped by cops whilst they are on patrol. But there are also two safety cameras in Dumbarton and the Vale – one on Dumbarton Road, Milton, and the other in Dumbarton, on Cardross Road.

In 2019, the Dumbarton camera detected a motorist driving at 46mph on the 30mph road.

And in Milton, a driver was detected travelling at 51mph on the 40mph road.

Meanwhile, in Clydebank, there are also two cameras – one on Glasgow Road and one on Duntocher Road.

Both cameras are located on 30mph zones and in 2019, drivers were caught going as fast as 66mph and 58mph.

The Glasgow Road camera caught a total of 49 people speeding in September 2018.

In the same month, the cameras in Milton and Dumbarton detected no drivers over the speed limit.

It was only a few weeks ago cops were urging people to drive safely after a number of motorists were charged with high level speeding offences.

Chief Superintendent Louise Blakelock, head of road policing, said: “The dangers of speeding are well known and have been shown time and again as being a significant factor in fatal injury collisions.

“With current challenges, we need to protect the NHS and save lives, therefore, drivers need to be more cautious and consider other road users.”