Scottish Government considers reducing speed limit to 50mph on single-carriageways

The Scottish Government is considering whether the speed limit on single-carriageway roads should be reduced to 50mph.

A public consultation on the issue will be announced by the transport secretary Fiona Hyslop on Wednesday.

It follows the Scottish Government’s National Speed Management Review examining the potential effects of changes to speed limits across Scotland.

The consultation invites people to give their feedback on proposals to lower the national speed limit on single-carriageway roads from 60mph to 50mph and to increase speed limits for goods vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes on single-carriageways from 40mph to 50mph and dual carriageways from 50mph to 60mph.

Hyslop said: “Road safety is a priority for the Scottish Government and we remain absolutely committed to working towards our ambitious goal of making Scotland’s roads the safest in the world by 2030.

“This consultation on proposed changes to speed limits is part of our record £36m investment in road safety this financial year.

“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 want to hear from the public and stakeholders on these proposals. The consultation is available online and a series of engagement sessions will be held early in 2025 to ensure a wide range of voices are heard.

“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.”

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.

Martin Reid, policy director for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the Road Haulage Association, said: “The Scottish Government should be commended for consulting on the change to HGV speed limits. 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.

“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.

“Having HGVs driving at up to 50mph would be a positive step, and we welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to this consultation.”

The consultation comes as councils across Scotland roll out 20mph limits on more roads.

More than 2,000 people were killed or seriously injured on roads in Scotland last year, according to figures released last week.

Figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) show the highest number of road accidents took place in the Glasgow City council area, with 240 people losing their life or sustaining serious injury in 2023 – up 3.9% on the previous year.

There were 2,084 victims of road traffic accidents across Scotland, up 7% since 2022.

The consultation is available to view here.