A long campaign by local constituency MSP Finlay Carson to have HGV speed limits increased has taken a move forward.
Plans have been announced to hold a public consultation into goods vehicles’ speed limits.
The Galloway and West Dumfries MSP wants them increased in a bid to cut deaths on Scottish roads – in particular, the A75.
He believes there is strong evidence to suggest that goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes should be able to travel at 50mph on single carriageways instead of the present 40mph.
The local constituency MSP also wants to see the speed limit for HGVs on dual carriageways raised from 50mph to 60mph to reduce the number of accidents.
But bizarrely, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP says he is “baffled” by moves to reduce car speeds nationally on single carriageways!
He said: “It really doesn’t make much sense to speed up goods vehicles and at the same time potentially cut the speed for cars!
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has confirmed plans for a national consultation with the public and stakeholders over proposed changes to Scotland’s speed limits.
Controversially one option being considered is speed limits on single carriageways dropping from 60mph to 50mph for motor vehicles.
On the question of HGV speeds, Mr Carson said: “This is hopefully a victory for common sense and will lead to changes in speed limits involving goods vehicles.
“As I have said on numerous occasions at Holyrood the A75 is notoriously bad for accidents and this is largely down to driver frustration.
“Drivers often take unnecessary risks by overtaking HGVs who are sticking rigidly to the speed limits currently imposed on them.
“Frustration creeps in and before you know it there has been a crash often serious or even fatal.”
He continued: “By simply allowing HGVs to travel that bit quicker it will help reduce the need for motorists to overtake and reduce the number of accidents.
“This is something I have raised repeatedly with previous Transport Ministers and also the current Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
“Now I am delighted that she has listened and arranged for a public consultation to be carried out. All my pressure has at last paid off.”
Mr Carson wrote to the Scottish Government in 2021 along with his south of Scotland MSPs Rachael Hamilton, Sharon Dowey, Brian Whittle and Oliver Mundell calling on a review to the current HGV speed limits.
They wanted to see Scotland come into line with its English counterparts who have higher speed limits.
Their bid had the backing of one of Scotland’s largest haulage companies – Hayton Coulthard – who insist it will not only potentially save lives but operating costs.
Speaking at the time, haulage boss Duncan Coulthard said: “We need the Scottish Government to increase the HGV speed limits on Scotland’s roads, given the wealth of evidence which shows the benefits of doing so.by 2031
“Studies have shown that road safety improves with higher HGV speeds, as few vehicles will be tempted to have to dangerously overtake.”
Haulage companies insist a change in journey time savings and vehicle operating costs could translate into benefits totalling £225.8 million by 2031.
Stifling HGV speed limits also puts Scotland at an economic disadvantage, according to the Road Haulage Association.
Martin Reid, policy director for Scotland, said that increasing speed limits would reduce risky overtaking by other drivers, reduce emissions and bring economic benefits from faster delivery times.
A report commissioned by Transport Scotland in 2017 found that the number of fatal and serious collisions on the road between Perth and Inverness reduced by 10 per cent following a speed increase.
The Transport Secretary announced on Wednesday plans for the public consultation that will remain open until Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
It invites feedback on proposals to lower the national speed limit on single carriageway roads from 60mph to 50mph and to increase speed limits for goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.
In 2023, there were 77 fatalities and 677 serious injuries on Scottish single carriageway roads.
Worryingly, preliminary data up to October 2024 indicates that road fatalities are tracking 23 per cent higher than 2023 levels.
Scottish Conservative shadow transport secretary Sue Webber MSP said: “If the SNP had kept their promises to upgrade and dual key roads, they wouldn't need to consider more limitations on drivers.
"The Nationalists are imposing restrictions on Scotland’s motorists, through a sleekit consultation, to make up for their own failure to fix the roads.
"The SNP are only trying to slow down drivers because they've been so slow to deliver vital infrastructure projects across Scotland.
"More restrictions is not what most people want to see. It's another example of how detached the Scottish Parliament has become from the real world.
"If they are genuinely interested in saving lives, the SNP should be investing to improve roads up and down the country from the A9 to the A75, instead of imposing more curbs on motorists.”
