Hopes for an increase in the speed limit for HGVs in Scotland have been raised after the government told Motor Transport it would shortly be asking the public for its opinions.
Scotland has had a different speed limit for HGVs from the rest of mainland UK ever since 2015 when they increased for lorries over 7.5 tonnes on single and dual carriageways, to 50mph and 60mph respectively.
However, in Scotland it remains 40mph on single carriageways and 50mph on dual carriageways.
Transport Scotland said it was currently analysing a range of policies related to speed and that as part of its review it would be launching a stakeholder and public consultation in the spring.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We are undertaking a national speed management review, as set out in Scotland’s road safety framework to 2030.
“The review covers comprehensive analysis of all types of speed management policies, including HGV speed limits, and initiatives in Scotland as well as a review of what has been introduced in other countries throughout the world.
“The review will consider what appropriate speeds mean within a Scottish context and recommend changes to national speed limits accordingly,” the spokesman added.
Martin Reid, policy director at the RHA, said he had been pressing the government to address the speed limit ever since a report assessing the increase in England and Wales found safety had not been compromised.
Reid said four transport ministers in the last three years had clearly played a part in contributing to a delay.
“I saw politicians and civil servants to speak about this and point out the inequalities that still exist in the UK,” he said. “Scottish hauliers are disadvantaged.
“Nobody is interested in reducing the safety element,” he added. “But the evidence from England and Wales after a four-year period when the limit changed shows there was nothing negative on the safety side.”
