The pilot areas have been chosen using selection criteria taking accident rates, vehicle speeds and traffic data into account.
A consultation process will now begin to develop more specific proposals for each location. This will involve discussions with the local authority, community groups and other stakeholders. It will also involve statutory consultation.
It is expected that the 20 mph zones on the trunk roads will be largely self-enforcing with no need for traffic calming measures. Instead, the use of gateway treatments, signing and lining will reinforce the speed limit changes.
Transport Minister Keith Brown visited Biggar today to announce proposals to bring forward a pilot.
“The safety of the trunk road network is a priority for Transport Scotland and managing speed is an important part of our strategy. It is essential that speeds are appropriate to conditions and these pilot zones will help us establish the benefits of lowering speeds in towns villages where it is reasonable to do so.
“The five trials are being proposed that will seek to improve road safety generally, but we expect them to bring specific benefits for vulnerable road users, such as older people and cyclists.
“There have been a number of calls for lower speed limits and specifically 20 mph limits and we have had to whittle these down to a number that will give us a meaningful overview of how this will work in a variety of locations.
“In doing so, we considered the number of accidents and other factors such as traffic volumes and speeds as well as HGV numbers and the characteristics of the location. I know there will be some communities that are disappointed that they missed out but we will be looking at how their specific concerns can be addressed as part of our wider approach to speed management. The proposed pilot is an important step in our work to reduce accidents and casualties on the trunk network.
“We are firmly behind any proposals which make driving safer in our villages and towns.
Maybole – High traffic flows and high %age of HGV traffic, it also has a high acc rate with a large number of Vulnerable Road User (VRU) accidents. The road environment in terms of layout and vehicle speeds would fit within the criteria for a 20 mph speed limit.
Largs - High traffic flows and moderate %age of HGV traffic, it also has a high acc rate with a large number of VRU accidents. The road environment in terms of layout has some limits in terms of its suitability for a 20 mph speed limit. Generally, however, Largs fits within the criteria for a 20 mph speed limit.
Langholm - Low traffic flows but has a high %age of HGV traffic, it also has a high acc rate with an moderate number of VRU accidents although we now the circumstances of three of the four accidents outlines that through traffic is not the issue. The road environment in terms of layout is well suited for a 20 mph speed limit and with the average speed of vehicles at 18.8 mph this would also meet the criteria for a 20 mph speed limit.
A number of other sites across the trunk road network were considered. These were: Keith; Nairn; Inveraray; Golspie; Callander; Springholm; Crocketford; Aberlour; and Cromdale. However, evidence indicated that the use of 20mph limits in these areas would be ineffective or impractical. Transport Scotland is now considering whether alternative road safety methods can be identified at these sites.