Proposed Speed Limit Reduction on Scottish Borders Motorbike Routes Receives Support

Proposals to decrease speed limits on four well-known motorcycling routes within the Scottish Borders have been met with approval by a local community leader. These plans, put forth by Police Scotland and supported by Scottish Borders Council, involve implementing 50mph (80km/h) limits on these four roads starting in March. The identified routes include the A7 situated north of Galashiels, the B6357 extending from the Carter Bar, the A708 connecting Moffat to Selkirk, and the A6088 running from Kielder to Bonchester Bridge. Philip Mark Kerr, representing the Southdean Community Council, stated that any initiative aimed at reducing the incidence of collisions should be embraced. The Scottish Borders region is a favored destination for motorcyclists, especially during the warmer summer period. Previously, several efforts have been made to enhance safety, such as patrols conducted by an unmarked police motorbike. This most recent initiative involves the introduction of the trial 50mph limit in March 2025, with an evaluation scheduled for September 2026. At that juncture, a consultation will take place to determine whether the limit should be maintained or if it should revert to 60mph (96km/h). This particular plan is separate from recent Scottish government proposals that suggest reducing speed limits for cars on single carriageways from 60mph to 50mph, concurrently with an increase for lorries. Mr. Kerr indicated that the measure would be well-received in his locality, where three individuals perished in a motorcycle collision during the summer. He stated, “Accidents and fatalities have taken place – notably this year which was horrific.” He continued, “Therefore we do welcome any attempts to try and highlight the difficult conditions that are here and people should be able to drive to those.” “This has been driven by motorcycle safety concerns and the police have decided that the trial is going to take effect from April.” He added, “It’s the summer months where we have had the most concerns.”