Car speed limits could be cut but raised for HGVs in Scotland

Scottish Conservative North East MSP Douglas Lumsden criticised the proposals and accused the SNP government of ignoring the concerns of people living in rural areas.

He said: “Unlike the central belt, the north and north east don’t have the luxury of motorways connecting locations across the region.

“The SNP government should be prioritising the upgrade of our single carriageway roads, like the A96 and A90 north of Ellon, instead of implementing ridiculous schemes like this to cover up for their failings.”

Under the current rules, speed limits for cars are set at 30mph in built-up areas, 60mph on single carriageways and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways.

However, local authorities are able to set limits below these, such as 20mph in built-up areas or 50mph in a stretch of road with sharp bends.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) said the Scottish government should be commended for consulting on the change to HGV speed limits.

Martin Reid, the body’s policy director for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, said: “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.”

He added: “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.”