Transport Scotland is proposing to reduce speed limits to 50mph on single-carriageway roads, and possibly reduce the dual-carriageway and motorway limits to 60mph for all traffic. The National Speed Management Review, which contains the proposals, could be put out for consultation.

The idea behind the changes is to reduce the speed differential between different types of traffic, which Transport Scotland says would have safety benefits as well as reducing tailbacks behind slow moving trucks. So while bikes and cars would see the limit reduced from 60 to 50mph on single-carriageway roads, the limit for trucks over 7.5 tonnes would increase from 40 to 50mph.

Similarly, on dual-carriageways and motorways, the speed limit for all traffic would become 60mph, with cars and bikes reduced by 10mph, and trucks increased by the same amount. Transport Scotland is suggesting the single-carriageway 50-limit is one option, with the dual-carriageway/motorway 60-limit as a possible addition.

The consultation document reads: “These options are aimed at addressing variations in vehicle speed limits to reduce driver frustration leading to reduced casualties and ultimately enhanced safety of Scotland’s road network.”

At the BMF, Government Relations Executive, Paul Morgan CBE,  said “The BMF works closely on road safety policy with Transport Scotland and Police Scotland to reduce road casualties, enhance overall road safety and to ensure that Scotland’s roads are safe for motorcycle riders and all road users.

As part of our approach to improving road safety, BMF and its key partner the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) support a “Safe Systems” approach that requires safe roads, safe road use, safe vehicles, safe speeds and an effective post-crash response . Speed limits in a Safe System are based on aiding collision avoidance and reducing the speed at which any impact occurs, ensuring that the body’s limit for physical trauma is not reached or exceeded. Speed management within such a system requires an active approach to require or persuade drivers to adopt speeds that ensure adequate mobility but without compromising safety.

We continue to work collaboratively with a number of road safety partners and wider stakeholders, including Transport Scotland and Police Scotland, to reduce the number of riders killed or seriously injured each year on the UK’s roads. Part of that work involves the implementation of a range of specific measures to improve rider safety, including improved motorbike and road design, the setting of appropriate speed limits and effective driver education and enforcement.

But importantly, the BMF and NMC’s position is that any “Safe Systems” approach must equally consider and be applied to all modes of transport, so as to deliver a safer environment for both riders and other road users. We are clear that a sustainable route to safer motorcycling will only be delivered by taking a holistic approach to both policy and practice, based on a “shared responsibility” approach and the inclusion and consideration of motorcycling within mainstream transport policy.

We will be discussing the National Speed Management review, and its planned outcomes, in further detail with our Transport Scotland partners to ensure that the aims of the review, to ensure “speed limits on Scotland’s roads are appropriate and contribute to reducing injury and death on Scotland’s roads” are fully delivered. In doing so, we will seek to ensure that the needs and requirements of riders are fully taken into account as part of the review. We will also be submitting a formal response to the proposals before the Review closing date on 5 March 2025.”

Written by Peter Henshaw

Top image courtesy of Christian Lendl -Unsplash