Council opposes car speed cuts, supports higher HGV limits citing area size and remoteness. Deadline is March 5th.
The Scottish Government proposed these speed adjustments, wanting to cut car speeds by ten mph and raise HGV speeds. The Council cited area size and remoteness.
The Council committee will finalize their response soon, with a deadline of March 5th. They are expected to accept the recommendations. Lisa MacKellaich made a report for the committee, stating the Council has mixed feelings about the options.
The idea was to drop car/van speeds from 60 to 50 mph. Also, raise speeds for large vehicles to 50 mph on single roads and 60 mph on dual roads.
The committee will meet soon to decide, and a chief officer can make changes if needed before the response is submitted.
MacKellaich said, “No change for single-carriageway roads,” while supporting higher speed limits for big trucks weighing over 7.5 tonnes. She noted the region’s large road network and the Highland Council area’s remoteness, saying a speed limit change could impact rural areas.
Driver behavior and the economy are vital factors. Drivers might become frustrated, leading to risky moves when passing cars. Bad speed limits can make people ignore them, affecting how well they obey speed rules.
Lower speeds could hurt the economy, increasing journey times and impacting businesses. Supply chains could face more problems, and costs might also rise. The government says journey times will stay the same; the Council wants proof of this for rural spots.
The council cannot predict collision balance. Will fewer collisions result from slower speeds, or will increased frustration cause more accidents?
The Council supports changes for HGV speed limits, believing it could improve driver behavior because of the A9 trial. It could also reduce injuries and deaths. The trial raised HGV speeds from 40 to 50 mph on single roads and from 50 to 60 mph on dual roads.