The Scottish Government has formally abandoned its controversial proposal to reduce the national speed limit on single carriageway roads, following a costly review that attracted overwhelming public opposition.
Public Outcry Sinks £500k Proposal
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop confirmed in a parliamentary written answer that ministers will not proceed with lowering the limit from 60mph to 50mph. The decision comes after a public consultation launched in November last year, which revealed that a staggering nine out of ten respondents were against the change.
The SNP government faced sharp criticism for the expenditure involved, having spent £513,747 of public money since 2021 on the national speed management review that developed the plan. Tory MSP Liam Kerr branded it a 'senseless idea', urging the government to focus on road improvements instead of 'waging a war on motorists'.
Consultation Reveals Deep-Seated Opposition
An analysis of the 19,584 consultation responses provided a clear mandate against the policy. The data showed:
- 89% believed a lower limit would increase driver frustration.
- 87% thought it would worsen journey times.
- Only 14% felt it would improve the number of serious or fatal collisions.
- A vast majority, 77%, considered the current 60mph limit 'about right'.
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Sue Webber stated the results demonstrated how 'out of touch' SNP ministers had been with public opinion.
Mixed Outcomes from the Review
While the headline proposal has been scrapped, the review has prompted action in other areas. Ms Hyslop indicated that work will progress to increase speed limits for heavy goods vehicles, as suggested in the consultation. This could see HGVs permitted to travel at 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways.
Defending the review process, the Transport Secretary said it provided 'important evidence' on how speed limits can help reduce road deaths and serious injuries. She reiterated the government's goal to make Scotland's roads the safest in the world by 2030, adding: 'We must never lose sight of the fact that one death on our roads is one too many.'
However, the decision was met with disappointment from some quarters. Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell called it 'regrettable', accusing the SNP government of being 'in reverse' on road safety. The consultation document itself had argued that a lower limit could 'significantly reduce' injury-causing accidents.
The episode concludes a lengthy and expensive policy exploration, leaving the 60mph national speed limit on single carriageway roads unchanged for the foreseeable future.
