Millions of drivers warned national speed limit could be cut to 50mph
Drivers in one part of the UK face speed limits being reduced. Politicians have slammed new speed limit restrictions which would see car owners forced to drive at 50mph north of the border, with the Scottish Conservative Party leading the criticism.
The Scottish Conservatives said: “For nearly two decades, the SNP have failed to deliver the vital improvements Scotland’s roads need.Roads like the A9, A96, A1, A75, A77 and A83 have become notorious for accidents, injuries and deaths.
"But instead of finally taking action to fix Scotland’s roads and protect drivers, the SNP now want to punish them with more restrictions. 50mph speed limits on single carriageway roads will penalise ordinary people, without cutting down on dangerous driving.
READ MORE: 20 million drivers face £30 fine 'rising to £1,000' on Monday
READ MORE: UK faces big driving law change because '85 per cent of motorists want it'
READ MORE UK faces 4cm snow per hour this week with 'exact times' flurries fall announced
"If the SNP really want to improve road safety, they need to deliver the road upgrades they promised. This is just the latest front in the SNP’s war on motorists." Launching the consultation, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop stressed road safety was a "priority" with a commitment to make Scotland’s roads the "safest in the world by 2030".
She said: "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.
"I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to engage with the consultation so far, and hope people will take the opportunity to attend these sessions." The proposals would see the HGV speed limit increased but the limit reduced for petrol and diesel drivers.
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."