Strathspey MSP Fergus Ewing blasts proposals to cut national speed limit to 50mph
Strathspey MSP Fergus Ewing has said that proposals for 50mph national speed limits on single carriagway trunk roads are angering and frustrating his constituents.
The Scottish Government recently launched a public consultation on the controversial move to cut the restriction from 60mph.
The consultation - which runs until March 5, next year - also wants feedback on proposals to increase speed limits for goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes on single-carriageways from 40mph to 50mph and dual-carriageways from 50mph to 60mph.
Related article:
The A9 Inverness-Perth road, A95 Aviemore-Keith route and A889 Dalwhinnie- Laggan road would be amongst those affected.
Mr Ewing told the Strathy: “The proposal that the speed limit on single track trunk roads including the A9 and A96 to 50mph has resulted in many constituents expressing their anger and frustration.
“Anger because they feel this is another measure imposed by the Central Belt administration which fails to understand the practicalities of life in the Highlands; and frustration because of course the promised upgrade of these two key national roads to dual carriageway has been broken thus denying Highlanders the safer roads taken for granted in the Central Belt.
“We don't have dual carriageway links here far less motorway links.
“The Road Safety Foundation evidence suggests that serious road traffic incidents are three times more likely on single track roads than dual carriageways and 10 times more likely than on motorways
“The 50mph proposal is put forward asserting it will increase safety but many argue that it will be likely to have the opposite effect.
“Driving at a speed which many regard as too low for the prevailing road conditions causes frustration which is likely to cause incidents because some frustrated drivers may attempt overtaking manoeuvres which are dangerous.
“In fact there are very few places on the non-dualled sections of the A9 where overtaking can be safely undertaken.
“That is because the way it was designed used long sweeping curves, where forward visibility is limited.
“I encourage those with strong views on this to contact me and put forward their representations to the consultation.”
The proposals were revealed in Transport Scotland’s National Speed Management Review Consultation.
Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Manager Alexandra Herdman says as far as HGVs are concerned this move would bring Scotland into line with England and Wales, boost efficiency and reduce C02 without compromising road safety.
Mrs Herdman explained: “We have been pressing for this consultation since it was first promised in ‘Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030’ published in 2021 and hopefully it will pave the way for Scotland’s HGV operators to have parity with Wales and England.
“Next year will mark ten years since the law change in England and Wales, which raised the speed limit for HGVs on single carriage roads to 50 mph, yet the speed limit in Scotland has remained at 40mph all that time.
“Any changes to the speed limit need to be evidence-based and the evidence from Wales and England is clear.
“Safety has not been compromised by an increased speed limit, HGVs are able to travel for longer periods closer to the optimum speeds for reducing carbon emissions and driver stress and frustration, among HGV drivers and general traffic, has reduced as HGVs can now travel at higher speeds.
“And Scotland’s own experience is that when the speed limits for HGVs on the single carriageway sections of the A9 were increased to 50mph and average speed cameras were installed, there was a ‘step change’ in driver behaviour and a 31 per cent reduction in the number of people being killed and seriously injured.
“This consultation gives us the opportunity to make the case for increasing the speed limit to ensure that the voice of the industry is heard, particularly in relation to the efficiency benefits that an increased speed limit could bring.”
