Question reference: S4W-24759
- Asked by: Dave Thompson, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 5 March 2015
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 March 2015
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in respect of the speed limit review.
Answer
Transport Scotland has been progressing with the speed limit reductions identified in the speed limit review since it was published in late 2012. Progress has been good and nine of the orders are complete and in place. Consultation on others has been progressing and we welcome the opportunity this has given local communities to comment on the proposals.
Transport Scotland has recently updated the background information for the speed limit review, recognising the time that has passed and the benefits of making decisions on the basis of the most current road safety performance data. This update supports the continued delivery of the majority of the remaining speed reductions. Consultation on these will continue. Others will be taken away for further consideration and evidence gathering before proposals are finalised.
A small number (five from the original 44 proposed reductions) are not supported by the updated traffic and accident information. These include both of the proposed speed limit reductions on the A87, one on the A84 and a further two on the A95. Work on these will end and the speed limit on these will remain as it currently is.
Road safety is of paramount importance and the proposed speed limit reductions are part of our wider programme of measures to ensure that casualty numbers continue to fall across the country.
The ‘setting local speed limits’ guidance which framed the original publication of the speed limit review encourages updates to the findings where new information becomes available. The recent update to the background information reflects this and supports our continued ability to make evidence based decisions.
Consultation is central to the consideration of any speed limit order and we will continue to engage with communities in promoting the orders recommended by the speed limit review.
The five orders we are intent on not progressing are:
A87 Invergarry to Viewpoint
A87 Cluanie Inn to Kintail Lodge
A84 Buchany to Drumvaich
A95 Craigellachie
A95 Ballindalloch