We’re urging the Scottish Government to (1) cut car and motorcycle speed limits and (2) reject higher speed limits for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) to prevent increased accidents and pollution.
Speed is a key risk factor in road safety—higher speeds increase both the likelihood and severity of crashes.
Therefore, we’ve responded to Transport Scotland’s consultation in support of the proposal to lower car and motorcycle speed limits from 60mph to 50mph on single carriageways. A comprehensive international evidence base shows this reduces collisions and injuries.
However, we oppose the proposed increase in Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) speed limits. The evidence for raising HGV limits from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageways and 50mph to 60mph on dual carriageways is weak and inconsistent.
This change contradicts the Safe Systems approach to road safety that the Scottish Government has committed to and could lead to:
- More collisions, injuries, and fatalities
- Increased air and noise pollution
- A shift from rail to road freight, harming sustainability
- Challenges in enforcement due to reduced traffic policing
For full details, read our consultation response here.
