Scottish Government Proposes Lower Car Speed Limits and Higher HGV Limits

New proposals from the Scottish government suggest a potential reduction in speed limits for cars on single carriageways, from 60mph to 50mph, while simultaneously increasing limits for lorries. Under these plans, the speed limit for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) would be raised from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageways and from 50mph to 60mph on dual carriageways. The government is initiating a public consultation on these modifications, hoping they will help to curb a consistent annual rise in road fatalities. However, the Scottish Conservatives labeled the initiative as “a ludicrous measure which seeks to demonise motorists in rural areas who rely on using a car”. This latest government proposal operates independently of a prior commitment to decrease the speed limit to 20mph on all “appropriate” urban roads by the conclusion of 2025. Ministers aim to halve the number of individuals killed and seriously injured on Scotland’s road network by 2030. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced the proposals during her visit to the Road Expo in Glasgow. The Secretary reported that road fatalities in 2024 have, to date, climbed by 26% compared to the same period last year. Hyslop affirmed that road safety is a key priority for the government, which remains “absolutely committed” to its objective of making Scotland’s roads the safest globally by 2030. She stated: “Evidence from the National Speed Management Review indicates that revising speed limits could lead to a significant reduction in the number of injury collisions on our roads while maintaining journey times and enhancing journey time reliability. We must never lose sight of the fact that one death on our roads is one too many. These proposed changes represent a vital step towards achieving national casualty reduction targets, and I urge everyone to take part in the consultation and help shape the future of road safety in Scotland.” Douglas Lumsden, a Scottish Conservative North East MSP, criticized the proposals, accusing the SNP government of disregarding the concerns of those residing in rural areas. He commented: “Unlike the central belt, the north and north east don’t have the luxury of motorways connecting locations across the region. The SNP government should be prioritising the upgrade of our single carriageway roads, like the A96 and A90 north of Ellon, instead of implementing ridiculous schemes like this to cover up for their failings.” Currently, standard speed limits for cars are set at 30mph in built-up areas, 60mph on single carriageways, and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways. Nevertheless, local authorities retain the power to impose lower limits, such as 20mph in built-up areas or 50mph on road sections with sharp bends. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) commended the Scottish government for consulting on the proposed changes to HGV speed limits. Martin Reid, the organization’s policy director for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, remarked: “The 50mph trial on the A9 has resulted in a reduction in risky overtaking with a resultant improvement in safety, backed up by a decade of data from roads in England and Wales. The extension of a 50mph limit across all Scottish single carriageway A roads should be expected to yield similar results.” He further added: “We also know that lorries use less fuel and create fewer emissions when they can drive at 50mph, and shorter journeys create savings which can be passed on to customers.” In 2023, the number of deaths on Scottish roads decreased by 16 to 155, marking the fourth lowest figure on record. However, the total number of casualties increased by 3% to 5,788. Speeding has been identified as a contributing factor in approximately one-fifth of road deaths in Scotland. In 2019, the Scottish Parliament rejected a bill, put forward by Green MSP Mark Ruskell, that sought to reduce the default speed limit on residential streets from 30mph to 20mph. A similar law passed in Wales, which allowed local authorities to make exemptions, proved contentious. The Scottish government’s consultation on these new proposals is open until Wednesday 5 March 2025 and can be accessed via the Transport Scotland website.