Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Scotland) Bill

# Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Scotland) Bill The proposal addresses road safety concerns in built-up residential and urban areas by establishing a lower speed limit for certain streets. Currently, many restricted roads in Scotland default to a 30 mph speed limit, which safety advocates argue contributes to serious injuries and fatalities, particularly affecting pedestrians and cyclists. The bill seeks to reduce these risks by lowering the default speed limit on restricted roads—typically residential streets and those in town centres—to 20 mph, reflecting evidence that collisions at lower speeds are less likely to result in death or serious injury. The bill would change the default maximum speed limit for restricted roads from 30 mph to 20 mph, with local authorities retaining the power to set higher limits where appropriate (such as certain main roads or major thoroughfares). This mechanism preserves flexibility for individual circumstances while establishing a safer baseline in urban areas. As a Member's Bill, this legislation reflects a private member's initiative rather than government-sponsored policy. The bill's specific outcome and current parliamentary progress would depend on its stage of consideration within the Scottish Parliament's legislative process at the time of review.

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