Highland Council rejects Scottish Government plans to cut speed limit for cars but backs increasing it for HGVs citing ‘significant length of national speed limit road network and remoteness’ of the area
Highland Council has rejected Scottish Government proposals to cut speed limit for cars by 10mph while supporting an increase for HGVs citing the “significant length of national speed limit road network and remoteness” of the area.
In a formal consultation response that is due to be finalised before the March 5 deadline the economy and infrastructure committee has been recommended to accept the answers.
Road safety manager Lisa MacKellaich in a report to the committee noted that Highland Council’s “proposed position on this consultation is mixed with regards to the options provided within the consultation survey”.
The government is asking whether it should cut the speed limit from 60 mph down to 50mph for cars and vans while for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes increasing it to 50mph on single carriageways and to 60mph on dual carriageways.
The committee meets on Thursday to finalise the matter, if the thinking changes then the chief officer of the place directorate will be delegated to make the changes before submitting the consultation response.
Ms MacKellaich said: “The Highland Council recommends no change to the existing national speed limit on 60mph single-carriageway roads” but it “supports the proposal to increase speed limits for goods vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes.
She said: “Considering the significant length of national speed limit road network and remoteness of the Highland Council area it is felt that a change in speed limit, particularly on our A class single carriageway roads, could have a significant impact on our rural communities.
“In particular in relation to driver behaviour and local businesses/Highland economy. In terms of driver behaviour, increased frustration or impatience could potentially lead to more aggressive driving or risky overtaking manoeuvres.
“Setting inappropriate speed limits can lead to drivers ignoring them which has consequences in terms of wider speed compliance.
“In economic terms, in particular relating of journey times, there is concern re the impact a reduced speed limit will have on local businesses e.g., businesses in time-sensitive sectors, may face challenges with supply chain logistics and increased operational costs.
“The consultation states journey times would be maintained, evidence of this has been requested in the consultation response for rural areas”.
She added: “The council is unable to predict where the balance point is between the number of collisions initially reduced by a reduction in speed v the potential increase in collision numbers caused by increased driver frustration and poor overtaking manoeuvres”.
Regarding HGV speed limits, the council is “supportive of the proposed changes to the HGV speeds limits due to “improvement in driver behaviour, greater speed compliance and reduction in deaths and serious injuries following the introduction of the A9 trial of increasing the speed limit for goods vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes on single carriageways from 40mph to 50mph and dual carriageways from 50mph to 60mph”.
