Over the past fortnight, multiple authorities have announced their intentions to introduce reduced speed limits in an effort to reduce road fatalities in their area.
The national limit on Scotland’s single-carriageway roads could be reduced to 50mph if government plans go ahead. The new regulations would also see limits for heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes raised to 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways.
The proposals come as part of the National Speed Management Review, which aims to reduce deaths and injuries on the country’s roads by maintaining suitable speed limits. It follows the news that road fatalities rose in Scotland last year. Transport Scotland says implementing changes from the review could reduce injuries while maintaining journey times and improving reliability.
Fiona Hyslop, transport secretary, said: “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.”
Birmingham is another major area to move towards lower speed limits. The city’s council has requested permission from the government to make 20mph the default limit on its restricted roads. It’s hoped the switch would save cash for the council by removing the need to install repeated 20mph signs in areas with a reduced limit.
The lower default limits, which come as part of the Birmingham Transport Plan, would apply to residential streets and local centres, with strategic and distributor roads retaining a 30mph limit. The city is also considering reducing the majority of its 40mph roads to 30mph. Birmingham recently saw a shocking number of deaths caused by road violence, declaring a road safety emergency as a result.
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