Scotland could soon follow Wales and change the national speed limit to 20mph on residential roads, thanks to a clause the Greens have in their power-sharing deal with the SNP.
The law will change the speed limit on about 35% of Welsh roads where lampposts are no more than 200 yards apart.
Because it will be the new national speed limit, 20mph signs will no longer be needed on those roads — except when the limit changes.
A proposal that “all appropriate roads in built-up areas will have a safer speed limit of 20mph by 2025” forms part of the Bute House agreement between the Scottish Greens and the SNP, according to the Sunday Times.
Mark Ruskell, Scottish Greens transport spokesman, who introduced a members bill in 2018 to replace the current 30mph default speed limit on restricted roads with a 20mph limit, said it would become a “reality” in Scotland.
“This is a really important step from the Welsh government and may prove to be a turning point for road safety: 20mph speed limits have been shown without doubt to reduce crashes and to save lives,” he told the newspaper.
“Despite that, sadly we are seeing road safety being weaponised as part of a culture war by the Tories and other reactionary forces who want to stop low-emission zones and other measures to make our communities safer and healthier.
“We are making important progress here in Scotland, with councils finalising plans to expand 20mph limits across the country. It is important that we learn lessons from the experiences in Wales too and reflect it in our own implementation.
Previous studies, the Greens say, indicate that every 1mph reduction in average speed can result in a 4-6% cut in casualties.