Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the National Speed Management Review?
A: The National Speed Management Review has examined changes to speed limits on Scotland's roads.
Q: Why has a National Speed Management Review been undertaken?
A: The review aimed to ensure speed limits are appropriate and contribute to reducing the number of those being killed and injured on Scotland’s roads.
Q: What work has been undertaken to date?
A: The review assessed options to enhance road safety through extensive research, including an analysis of international practices and engagement with stakeholders. The proposals flowing from this were a reduction of the national speed limit for motor vehicles on single-carriageway roads and increasing speed limits for HGVs. In addition, a public consultation exercise was held between November 2024 and March 2025 and a range of in-person and online engagement sessions were held to ensure a wide range of views are heard.
Q: What changes were proposed in the public consultation?
A: The public consultation set out proposals to reduce the national speed limit on single carriageways from 60 mph to 50 mph and increase HGV speed limits on single carriageways from 40 mph to 50 mph and dual carriageways from 50 mph to 60 mph.
Q: How many responses were received to the public consultation?
A: There were over 19,500 responses received.
Q: What did you learn from the public consultation?
A: Findings showed that a majority of respondents and organisations favoured retaining 60 mph national speed limit on single carriageways. Important points were highlighted in relation to a potential increase in driver frustration and longer journey times, particularly in rural and remote areas.
In relation to increasing HGV speed limits, almost half of respondents and a majority of organisations supported increasing single carriageway HGV speed limits from 40 mph to 50 mph. In relation to increase HGV speed limits on dual carriageways from 50 mph to 60 mph, views were evenly split, with almost half of organisations of the view the existing limit is too low. A majority also believed increased HGV limits would reduce driver frustration and improve journey times.
Q: What changes are being implemented?
A: Work is being progressed to progress steps towards increasing HGV speed limits on single carriageways from 40 mph to 50 mph and on dual carriageways from 50 mph to 60 mph.
Q: Is a reduction in single carriageway national speed limits still being considered?
A: Following close consideration of consultation responses Ministers will not be taking forward changes in relation to national speed limits on single carriageways. Further work will be undertaken to continue to analyse the impact on road casualties and journey times of a speed limit change on different standards of single carriageways. This will include engagement with local authorities, Police Scotland and other partners in gathering experience and evidence of the differences between 50 mph or 60 mph limit in different locations and impacts on network performance.
Q: What benefits would increased HGV speed limits deliver?
A: Increasing HGV speed limits is expected to enhance safety as a result of a reduction in the speed differential between HGVs and other vehicles leading to a reduction in driver frustration and improved journey time reliability.
Evidence from the A9 HGV speed limit trial between Perth and Inverness indicates that higher HGV limits can help lead to improved driver behaviour, higher levels of speed limit compliance and improved journey time reliability. The trialled increase in HGV limit on this route, combined with the introduction of average speed cameras, also led to a significant reduction in deaths and serious injuries.
Q: When will HGV speed limits be changed?
A: The necessary legal and legislative steps are being taken to introduce this change subject to parliamentary time following the Scottish Parliamentary Election.
Q: Can Scottish Ministers legally change speed limits?
A: Yes. Scottish Ministers have the devolved authority to amend speed limits to enhance road safety and manage traffic effectively through the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Q: Have changes to HGV limits been implemented elsewhere?
A: Yes. Similar changes have been implemented both in Scotland and across the rest of the UK. On the A9, an increased HGV speed limit has been in place on single-carriageway sections between Perth and Inverness since 2014. In England and Wales, HGV speed limits on single and dual carriageways were increased in 2015.
Q: What impact will increasing HGV limits have on journey times?
A: Analysis and evidence indicates that increasing HGV speed limits will result in a small increase in the average speed of HGVs. This is expected to reduce the speed differential between HGVs and other vehicles which is expected to result in improved traffic flow and journey time reliability. An evaluation into the HGV speed limit increase in England and Wales showed a small increase in average HGV speeds — 1.6 mph on single carriageways and 0.5 mph on dual carriageways — and a significant improvement in compliance with the speed limit.
Q: What impact will increasing HGV limits have on driver frustration?
A: Analysis and evidence indicates that increasing HGV speed limits will result in a reduction in driver frustration. An evaluation into the A9 HGV speed limit trial found that increasing HGV speed limits improved traffic flow, reduced driver frustration, and supported safer driving behaviour, without any associated increase in collisions.
Q: What impact will increasing HGV speed limits have on the environment?
A: Increasing HGV speed limits is expected to enable those vehicle types to operate more efficiently, delivering fuel and emissions benefits which could turn have a positive environmental impact.
Q: What is the implementation and enforcement cost of increasing HGV speed limits?
A: The implementation costs associated with increasing HGV speed limits are expected to be minimal. The change can be delivered through legislation and does not require physical alterations to the road network or additional signage. Enforcement would continue to be carried out through existing Police Scotland resources and safety camera operations, meaning no additional enforcement costs are anticipated.
Q: What discussions have you had with Cosla, RTPs, Scots on this?
There has been multiple discussions with stakeholders as we have progressed through the review. These discussions have focussed on the high number of people being killed and seriously injured on Scotland’s roads and how the changes could positively impact road safety in Scotland.
Q: What are Police Scotland’s views on increasing HGV speed limits do they agree?
We have had multiple discussions with Police Scotland throughout the review. They are committed to enforcing speed limits across Scotland..
Q: Is a reduction in single carriageway national speed limits still being considered?
A: Following close consideration of consultation responses Minister will not be taking forward changes to national speed limits on single carriageways. Further work will be undertaken to continue to analyse the impact on road casualties and journey times of a speed limit change on different standards of single carriageways.
Q: What are the potential benefits of reducing national speed limits on single carriageways?
A: A reduction in the national speed limit on single carriageways could significantly reduce casualties. Research has found that for every 1 km/h reduction, road fatalities decrease by 8%, and overall casualties reduce by 6%. Reduced speeds can also improve traffic flow and air quality.
Q: Could variable speed limits, tailored to weather conditions and peak traffic periods, be an alternate way to enhance road safety and traffic flow?
A: The introduction of additional variable speed limits was considered as a part of the National Speed Management Plan. However, it was considered that a change in speed limits offers the greatest potential to reduce death and serious injuries on Scotland’s roads.
Q: Would driver education make more of a difference than changing the speed limits?
A: Ensuring that drivers are informed of changes in road safety policy is recognised as an important part of delivering safer roads. Through Road Safety Scotland, a series of national behaviour change campaigns are delivered each year. Further information on these campaigns is contained at: Campaigns - Road Safety Scotland
Q: Will motorway and dual-carriageway speed limits be changed?
A: No changes are proposed for these roads, as they are regarded as Scotland’s safest roads and reducing speeds could significantly impact journey times.
Q: Does this review cover the implementation of 20 mph speed limits?
A: No. Separate commitments are in place to implement 20 mph limits where appropriate by March 2026.