16th December 2025
The Scottish Government has abandoned its proposals to reduce driving speed limits (specifically cutting the national speed limit on single-carriageway roads from 60 mph to 50 mph).
Public Consultation Feedback Was Overwhelmingly Opposed.
The Scottish Government ran a National Speed Management Review and consulted widely on lowering speed limits for cars. It received over 19,500 responses, which is considered the largest such transport consultation in Scotland's history.
When the results were analysed, around 77-90 % of respondents opposed cutting the national speed limit from 60 mph to 50 mph.
Many respondents argued the change would lengthen journeys, increase driver frustration, and wasn't clearly justified by safety data.
Local authorities and business groups — especially in rural areas — expressed strong opposition. For example, Highland and Moray Chambers of Commerce warned the proposal could harm connectivity and disadvantage rural communities further, where transport options are already limited.
Some politicians and voices in Parliament criticised the policy as unnecessary or poorly justified and a potential burden on motorists and businesses.
Critics argued that a blanket reduction would not necessarily improve safety unless linked to specific road conditions or enforced effectively. Many also pointed out that persistent issues like dangerous junctions or road layout problems might not be solved just by lowering limits.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop confirmed that after considering the consultation, ministers will not take forward the speed limit reduction for cars at this time.
Instead, the government said it will continue analysing the data to understand impacts on road casualties and journey times, which may inform future policy.
While the 50 mph cut for cars was dropped, plans to adjust speeds for Heavy Goods Vehicles (e.g., increasing limits on certain roads) are still being pursued.
Councils are able to set limits below these, such as 20mph in built-up areas or 50mph in a stretch of road with sharp bends.
The decision to abandon the speed limit reduction on Scottish roads was driven mainly by strong public opposition and stakeholder concerns, coupled with a political judgment that the evidence and consultation feedback did not justify the change at this time. Ministers say they will keep analysing data and can revisit policy decisions based on future evidence.
Provisional figures released by Transport Scotland showed that 160 people died in 2024 - 13 more than the year before.
However, the total number of people injured on the roads dropped from 5,838 to 5,576.
Deaths involving cars and motorbikes increased last year but the number of pedestrians and cyclists killed on the roads reduced.
The Scottish government has a target, set in 2021, to reduce road deaths by half by the end of the decade.