Angry Scottish drivers stage ‘go slow’ protest
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By Chris Tindall DRIVERS IN Scotland are organising a protest against 40mph speed limits, after the government said plans to introduce faster speeds exclude Scottish roads.
The frustration caused by LGV drivers travelling 20mph slower than other motorists has prompted a group of drivers to agree to stick rigidly to the 40mph limit. They hope it will raise awareness to how they are often forced to break the law just to keep traffic moving.
The protest is due to begin on Monday 3 December and continue until Friday 7 December.
A consultation into 50mph speed limits on some A-roads is open until February, but due to devolution it does not apply to Scotland.
“We’ve had enough,” said one driver of a major Scottish haulage firm. “All the police forces from Tayside upwards are doing another clampdown on lorries. They pulled one of the local lads over at 50mph and charged him.
“We have got together to organise a ‘go slow’. If it’s 40 they want, it’s 40 they are going to get!” A Transport Scotland spokesman said road safety was a top priority, and added: “While we have no plans to implement an increase in speed limits across Scotland’s roads, the A9 Safety Group has agreed to look at trialling an increased speed limit for LGVs on this particular route. Further information will be available in the new year.” • Meanwhile, the Road Haulage Association has sought to clarify its position on the Department for Transport’s consultation into increasing the speed limit of LGVs to 50mph on single-carriageway A-roads (“Increase the speed limit, says industry,” CM 15 November) outside Scotland.
It said the 50mph should only apply to suitable A-roads, with suitable being defined as those with the 60mph limit for cars.
You can access the consultation at: dft.gov.uk/consultations