Greens say 20mph rollout in Scotland would lead to safer streets

Scottish Greens transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP said that the rollout of a 20mph speed limit in Scotland will mean safer streets and communities.

Mr Ruskell, who was speaking on the morning of the 20’s Plenty for Scotland Conference in Edinburgh, has led calls for a limit of 20mph in built up areas across Scotland.

In 2018 Mr Ruskell brought forward a Members Bill to replace the current 30mph default speed limit on restricted roads with a 20mph limit.

The Bute House Agreement between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government includes a commitment to expand 20mph in Scotland, with an agreement that “all appropriate roads in built up areas will have a safer speed limit of 20mph by 2025.”

Analysis by Agilysis has shown that traffic speeds on urban roads in Wales have reduced by almost 3mph since the introduction of the default 20mph speed limit.

Mr Ruskell said: “The introduction of the 20mph limit in Wales has been a big success, and shows exactly why its expansion is so crucial to Scotland. It is one of the most important road safety measures that we can take, with an impact that will be felt for generations.

“Widespread 20mph limits are already in place in the Highlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow and other parts of our country. I want to see it rolled out all over Scotland, saving lives and giving us safer streets and communities.

“Introducing 20mph speed limits is the simplest, quickest and cheapest way to reduce casualties, and I am delighted to be working with Scottish Greens in government and with campaigners and local authorities to support this vital work.

“Quietly across Scotland, our communities are changing for the better and becoming safer, greener and cleaner, with safer 20mph speed limits, a ban on pavement parking and the introduction of low-emission zones.”