Motorists are paying heed to the police warning, it is claimed

Colin McNeil, Lothian and Borders Police safety camera partnership manager, said the decrease over the past year was "excellent news".

The number of convictions has tumbled despite a recent trebling of the number of speed traps.

Some critics say drivers are slowing down only when approaching cameras.

The number of motorists caught speeding in Edinburgh in 2005/06 was 21,493 compared with 31,004 over the same 12-month period the year before.

Across the whole of Lothian and Borders, motorists captured speeding by both fixed and mobile cameras fell from 42,524 to 31,655.

Accident blackspots

New cameras were installed at 17 accident blackspots as part of a �2m initiative three years ago, with a total of 35 fixed and mobile camera sites now operating around the city.

Mr McNeil said: "The decrease in speeding drivers is excellent news. I believe that the message that driving at high speeds is unacceptable is getting through.

"In today's world the vast majority of law abiding drivers wouldn't dream of drink driving and I truly believe that we are on our way to making speeding as equally unacceptable.

"Collisions on Edinburgh's roads have reduced by 41% and driving at a slower speed plays a very important part in this decrease.