It could take even longer to have baby in Raigmore from Caithness if new speed limits are approved

15th August 2025

The Scottish Government's National Speed Management Review recommends a suite of speed limit revisions on the A9 to lower casualty rates, enhance journey-time reliability, and align heavy goods vehicle (HGV) speeds with cars.

A public consultation running until March 2025 attracted over 19,500 responses, informing Transport Scotland's final proposals.

Carriageway Speed Limit Reductions
Single-carriageway sections: reduce from 60 mph to 50 mph to curb high-speed collisions and serious injuries on long stretches of undivided road3.

Trial data: a 50 mph trial on the A9 recorded markedly fewer risky overtaking manoeuvres, strengthening the case for a permanent lower limit on single-carriageway segments3.

HGV Speed Limit Increases
Single carriageways: raise from 40 mph to 50 mph, aligning lorry speeds with cars to reduce overtaking risk and improve fuel efficiency.

Dual carriageways: raise from 50 mph to 60 mph, harmonising HGV and car speeds to smooth traffic flow and cut down on speed variability between vehicle types3.

Temporary and Location-Specific Limits
Tomatin-Moy stretch: a six-mile section has a temporary 40 mph limit from 10 March 2025 until dualling works finish (anticipated spring 2028). Temporary cameras, narrowed lanes, and signals enforce safety for workers and road users7.

Tore Roundabout
Under The A9 and A835 Trunk Roads (Tore) (40 mph Speed Limit) Order 2024, a permanent 40 mph zone will be installed around the roundabout to protect non-motorised users and support active travel links.

Consultation response
While many backed lower speeds for safety, rural stakeholders emphasised the economic and connectivity impact of slower limits across remote Highland routes.

Business opposition
Highlands and Moray chambers of commerce argue that reducing 60 mph to 50 mph on single-carriageway roads like the A9 risks harming tourism, supply chains, and fails to address core safety issues such as road maintenance and signage quality10.

Whether permanent or temporary, these proposed changes aim to strike a balance between safety improvements and efficient movement along one of Scotland's key north‐south corridors.

Business groups oppose 60 to 50mph speed limit plan - BBC