PLANS to cut the speed limit in built-up areas to 20mph could be a “golden opportunity” to save lives, road safety campaigners have said.
The charity Brake is supporting a Member’s Bill put forward by Green MSP Mark Ruskell which would reduce the default limit from 30mph in urban and residential streets across Scotland.
Brakes has said it wants more areas across the country to cut their speed limit to 20mph.
Forcing drivers to slow down would improve safety, Brake argued, with speed a factor in 19 per cent of fatal crashes and 11 per cent of road accidents in Scotland in 2015.
Responding to a consultation on the Restricted Roads (20mph Limit) (Scotland) Bill, Brake said: “There are numerous benefits to the introduction of a default 20mph limit where people live – including improved road safety, public health and sustainable transport, and less strain on the NHS and other public services.”
Its director of campaigns, Jason Wakeford, added: “A default 20mph limit across built-up areas in Scotland offers a golden opportunity to save lives, promote sustainable transport and improve the environment.
“Travelling at lower speeds drastically reduces the risk of death and serious injury and encourages more walking and cycling – relieving pressure on the NHS and other public services.
“We fully support Mark Ruskell’s proposed Bill and want to see more urban areas going 20mph right across the UK.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said there were “no current plans to lower the 30mph limit to 20mph on a national basis as decisions on urban speed limits are best taken at local authority level”, adding: “The Scottish Government is committed through Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 to reducing risk on Scotland’s roads.”
He confirmed that Transport Minister Humza Yousaf had met Ruskell and would consider the Bill and the results of the consultation.
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