Scotland is considering increasing the speed limits for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) after public consultation.
- Scottish HGV speed limits have remained unchanged since 2015, differing from the rest of mainland UK.
- Transport Scotland is reviewing speed management policies, including HGV speed limits, based on international comparisons.
- Industry voices express concerns over the safety implications of current speed limits and push for reforms.
- Evidence from England and Wales suggests that increased speed limits for HGVs do not compromise road safety.
The current speed limits for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in Scotland lag behind those in the rest of mainland UK. Since 2015, speed limits for lorries over 7.5 tonnes were increased to 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways in the rest of the UK, whereas in Scotland, they remain at 40mph and 50mph, respectively. This discrepancy has prompted calls for a review.
Transport Scotland has announced its intention to carry out a comprehensive national speed management review as articulated in Scotland’s road safety framework towards 2030. This review entails a significant examination of all types of speed management policies, including those concerning HGV speed limits, and will incorporate insights from international practices.
The planned stakeholder and public consultation marks a critical step in determining what suitable speed limits should be within the Scottish context. Such a process is expected to recommend alterations to current national speed limits. The consultation is scheduled to commence in the spring, as part of Transport Scotland’s active policy review.
Martin Reid, the Policy Director at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), has been a prominent advocate for revising the speed limits. Reid argues that since findings from England and Wales demonstrated no adverse effects on safety following the speed limit increases, similar policies should be considered in Scotland, stating, “Scottish hauliers are disadvantaged.”
The push for reform underscores the perceived inequalities within the UK’s road transport regulations, where Scottish hauliers are seen as operating under restrictive conditions. Reid notes that despite having engaged with four transport ministers over three years, the reform process has experienced considerable delays.
The upcoming public consultation offers a pivotal opportunity to align Scottish HGV speed regulations with modern safety insights from other parts of the UK.
