The Scottish Government

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Section 1: Introduction

1. The Scottish Executive's vision of safe, integrated and reliable transport is set out in its white paper, Scotland's Transport Future. Balancing the need to travel with the need to improve quality of life is a key objective and is also reflected in our, and wider UK Government, policies aimed at overcoming social exclusion and strengthening rural communities. The Executive is committed to reducing road traffic accidents and injuries, and developing safer environments for all road users, within a road system which aids wider economic and environmental objectives in a sustainable way. The promotion of safe and considerate driving and encouraging road users to adopt appropriate speeds on our roads are major parts of this work.

2. This guidance applies to the setting of local speed limits, other than 20 mph speed limits, in Scotland. It is issued by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Scottish Executive for our respective interests. DfT's interests cover reserved matters, for example legislation relating to speed limits, while the Executive's interests cover devolved matters, for example road humps and traffic calming, and functions within reserved matters which are exercisable by the Scottish Ministers, for example specifying the classification or type of roads which are restricted roads.

3. Effective speed management involves many components, designed to work together to encourage, help and require road users to adopt appropriate and safe speeds. Speed limits play a fundamental role. They are a key source of information to road users, particularly as an indicator of the nature and risks posed by a road to both themselves and other motorised and non-motorised road users. Speed limits should, therefore, be evidence led, self-explaining and seek to reinforce peoples' assessment of what is a safe speed to travel. They should also encourage self-compliance and not be seen by drivers as being a target speed at which to drive in all circumstances.

4. The overall speed limit framework, including the setting of national limits for different road types, and which exceptions to the general limits can be applied, are the responsibility of the UK Government. The three national speed limits are:

• the 30 mph speed limit on restricted roads (in Scotland Class C or unclassified roads with street lighting);
• the speed limit of 60 mph on single carriageway roads;
• the 70 mph speed limit on dual carriageways and motorways.

These national limits are not, however, appropriate to all roads. The speed limit regime enables Traffic Authorities to set local speed limits in situations where local needs and considerations deem it desirable to adopt a speed which is different from the national speed limit.

5. Local speed limits in Scotland are determined by Traffic Authorities having regard to guidance issued by the Scottish Executive. This guidance supersedes that contained in Circular 1/93, which is now cancelled. However, SEDD Circular No 6/2001 - 20 mph Speed Limits - and ETLLD Circular No 1/2004 - 20 mph Speed Limits Around Schools on Roads with Speed Limits Higher Than 30 mph - remain in place. Copies of these Circulars are attached in Annexes F and G. This guidance retains and builds on many of the underlying principles of Circular 1/93. However, it also reflects some of the important developments in speed management policies and research, including the extended knowledge of the relationship between speed and the risk of accident and severity of injury, and of the actual speeds being driven on rural roads. The guidance also gives some examples of the type of roads on which particular speed limits might be suitable and sets out key elements of speed limit legislation, including signing rules and requirements.

6. The guidance has been compiled with the help of organisations both within and outside Government ¹. Although primarily aimed at Traffic Authorities responsible for setting local speed limits, it is also designed to improve the wider understanding of how local speed limits are determined.

7. The guidance is to be used for setting local speed limits on single and dual carriageway roads in both urban and rural areas. It brings together the main features of other published guidance on speed limit related issues including speed related road traffic regulation and signing, street lighting, traffic calming, and speed limits in villages.

8. The guidance should not however be used in isolation, but read in conjunction with the more comprehensive advice on these matters set out in the appropriate Traffic Advisory Leaflets and with the relevant legislation, including the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 ( TRSGD 2002).

Priorities for action

9. The guidance in this Circular should be used as the basis for future assessments of local speed limits and for developing route management strategies.

10. Traffic Authorities should keep their speed limits under review with changing circumstances. It will not be possible to implement and bring about all of the objectives set out in this guidance overnight. Traffic Authorities are, however, asked to review the speed limits on all their A and B roads by 2011 in accordance with this guidance. Consistent with their duty in respect of road safety, Traffic Authorities will wish to focus the use of speed management measures, including more appropriate speed limits, or a combination of these methods, on those roads or routes (not just on A and B roads) with the most pressing problems of accidents and injuries, or where there is a widespread disregard for current speed limits.

11. The guidance will continue to be reviewed in the light of experience and policy developments. The Department for Transport intends to evaluate its usefulness to Traffic Authorities and review the results of its use on the ground. This information will be assessed as part of the three yearly review of the GB Road Safety Strategy, to be published in 2010.

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