Scotland at 'economic disadvantage' due to HGV speed limit, The Road Haulage Association says

The Road Haulage Association has called on the Scottish Government to increase speed limits for heavy goods vehicles.

RHA policy director for Scotland, Martin Reid, is campaigning for the speed limit for lorries over 7.5 tonnes to increase from 40mph to 50mph, saying that Scotland is being put at an “economic and competitive disadvantage”.

The group pointed to a 2017 report commissioned by Transport Scotland that found that the number of fatal collisions on the road between Perth and Inverness reduced by 10 per cent following a speed increase.

A report commissioned by the UK Department for Transport in 2020 found that increasing the HGV limit to 50mph in England and Wales saw “no evidence” of a change in collisions involving HGVs.

Mr Reid has said that increasing speed limits would reduce the number of risky overtaking by other drivers, reduce emissions, and bring economic benefits from faster delivery times.

He said: “The trial on the A9 shows that when the speed limit for HGVs is closer to that for cars, it reduces the likelihood of risky overtaking.

“We also know that lorries use less fuel and create fewer emissions when they can drive at 50mph, and hauliers will tell you that if journeys take less time, they create savings which can be passed on to customers.

“Having HGVs driving at up to 50mph on Scotland’s ‘A’ roads would be of benefit to everyone in the country, and it should be implemented as soon as possible.”

The RHA, which has over 8,500 members, is also pushing Transport Scotland to publish the findings of the 2021 national speed management review.

Mr Reid believes that hauliers in Scotland are at a “competitive disadvantage” compared to those in England and Wales due to the differing speed limits.

“In 2021, Transport Scotland announced it would conduct a national speed management review, in part to look at this 50mph question.

“The review was to be done in 2021/22 and followed by a consultation. Since then, the timings have slipped again and again.

“We can’t understand why it’s taken so long to publish the results, hold the consultation and make the change.

A spokesman for Transport Scotland confirmed that the Government are “undertaking a national speed management review, as set out in Scotland’s road safety framework to 2030.”

“The review covers a comprehensive analysis of all types of speed management policies (including HGV speed limits) and initiatives in Scotland as well as a review of what has been introduced in other countries throughout the world.

“The review will consider what appropriate speeds mean within a Scottish context and recommend changes to national speed limits accordingly.”