ROADS in Argyll and Bute will be considered for a possible 20mph speed limit on a case-by-case basis, officials have said.
Argyll and Bute Council has been allocated £78,000 of funding from Transport Scotland to identify suitable locations for trial the limits.
The project, which it is estimated will take two years to complete, is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to create a healthier, greener and safer Scotland.
Currently the default speed limit on restricted roads (generally where there are street lights or pavements) is 30mph. In December 2023, the Scottish Government advised that it would follow its 20mph project locally through traffic regulation orders rather than a using a default 20mph speed limit on all restricted roads.
Monitoring and evaluation before and after the trial will inform whether or not limits have achieved appropriate speed reductions. If not, and without funding for physical measures like signage, chicanes and speed bumps, the speed limits may revert to existing levels.
Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services, said: “Our roads are used more than they have ever been, in different ways, so we have to make sure they work for everyone.
“I welcome this Scottish Government funding because it will help us gather enough data to make informed decisions we can use going forward. We are not deciding to implement any restrictions right at this moment – we will have more detail to consider at a future meeting. The 20mph zones might not be right in every instance, but this is our chance to find the right speed for the right place. If asked for your views, I would encourage you to feedback.”
Statistics indicate that a pedestrian being struck by a car travelling at 30mph is seven times more likely to result in a fatality than someone being struck at 20mph.
The move was discussed at a recent meeting of the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee.
Councillor Alastair Redman (Independent, Kintyre and the Islands) asked: “You have mentioned Wales, but what has happened there is a complete mess, and I am putting the question out there – is it preferable to have individual areas assessed on their own individual needs, or a 20mph limit across the board? Which is more workable?”
Stuart Watson, the council’s assistant network and standards manager, responded: “It is better to have the local assessment rather than a blanket approach, which would introduce limits which made no sense and possibly would not be complied with.
“We did it differently from how Scottish ministers are looking at it and have had significant volumes of criticism.
“It has to be considered across Argyll and Bute. We do not want different rules in different areas, but it has to be set against local context.
“It is a legitimate criterion to consider how locals feel about our roads, and we would not get the local feeling with a blanket approach.”
Cllr Redman added: “If people are breaking the limit at 30mph, sticking a new sign up saying it is 20mph will not stop them. Is the lack of manpower in the police a factor as well?”
Mr Watson said: “That is something for Police Scotland to comment on. They will carry out enforcement as they consider appropriate and there have been conversations between them and the
Scottish Government.”
