The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has formally responded to Transport Scotland’s consultation on proposed changes to speed management across the country, expressing support for lowering speed limits on single carriageway roads while opposing any increase in speed limits for HGVs.
RoSPA supported reducing the national speed limit on single carriageway roads from 60mph to 50mph for cars and motorcycles, citing strong safety benefits.
Caitlin Taylor, RoSPA’s road safety manager, said: “This reduction aligns with our commitment to road safety and our ongoing efforts to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Scotland’s roads. We believe this change will significantly improve safety, particularly on roads where the risk of collisions is higher.”
The organisation said the move could contribute positively to Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030, which aims for zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050. RoSPA highlighted that reducing speed limits leads to fewer fatal and serious collisions, shorter stopping distances, and improved protection for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders.
Additionally, RoSPA notes that lower speed limits could help improve air quality and reduce noise pollution, aligning with Scotland’s environmental goals.
While supporting a speed reduction for smaller vehicles, RoSPA opposed any increase in speed limits for HGVs on both single and dual carriageways, raising concerns over the potential safety risks.
“Higher speeds for HGVs could increase the risk of serious collisions, as these vehicles require significantly longer stopping distances compared to smaller vehicles. This could lead to more severe collisions, especially in mixed traffic conditions,” Taylor said.
RoSPA also warned that raising speed limits for HGVs could worsen driver fatigue, as drivers might feel pressured to meet tighter schedules, increasing the likelihood of fatigue-related incidents. Furthermore, heavier vehicles moving at faster speeds could lead to greater wear and tear on road surfaces, resulting in higher maintenance costs and potential road defects that pose risks to all road users.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of raising HGV speed limits, such as reduced journey times and decreased driver frustration, RoSPA said the risks outweigh the advantages. The organisation pointed to increased crash severity, noise pollution, negative environmental impacts, and greater infrastructure strain as major concerns.
RoSPA emphasised the importance of strict enforcement measures should any speed limit reductions be implemented. The organisation urges authorities to introduce clear signage, expand the use of speed cameras, and run public education campaigns to ensure compliance with any changes.
“RoSPA’s response to the consultation is driven by our commitment to reducing road traffic casualties and making Scotland’s roads safer for everyone. We believe that reducing speed limits on single carriageway roads for cars and motorcycles is a necessary step in improving road safety. At the same time, we are opposed to increasing speed limits for HGVs, as we believe this would put road safety at risk,” Taylor stated.
With Transport Scotland considering changes to speed management, RoSPA’s recommendations highlighted the importance of balancing safety, environmental concerns, and infrastructure integrity in any future policy decisions.
