20mph speed limit being introduced to improve safety
A national drive to cut speed limits on urban roads to 20mph could soon be introduced across North Ayrshire to improve safety.
Transport Scotland, the national agency that delivers the Scottish Government's vision for transport, wants to reduce speeds on suitable roads in villages, towns and cities across the country from the current 30mph limit to 20mph before the end of 2025.
Evidence shows that when a vehicle collides with a pedestrian at 30 mph, they are seven times more likely to die than at 20 mph.
Through Scotland’s National 20mph Strategy, the government’s vision is “Slower today for a safer tomorrow”, with the aim of:
- Reducing the number of road collisions and when a collision happens, a reduction in its severity
- Improve people’s perceptions of road danger and provide a fairer balance between different types of road users
- Encouraging a change in the way people travel for shorter everyday journeys to help cut our carbon footprint and promote healthier lives and
- Improving communities by lowering speeds in the places residents live and grow.
The most recent statistics, for 2022, show there were 2201 casualties on Scottish roads with a speed limit of 30 mph. Of these, 623 people were seriously injured and there were 31 fatalities.
Quote: Cars currently account for almost 40 per cent of transport emissions. And one aim of cutting the speed limit by 10mph on certain roads is to encourage residents to consider walking, wheeling and cycling more rather than using their car. This would help to improve people’s health, boost road safety and create much more pleasant neighbourhoods for everyone to live in. Roads are our biggest community asset, and it is vital that everyone is able to use them safely and with confidence.
Quote from: Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy
The lower limit has already been introduced in Wales for all 30mph roads, and across Scotland each local authority will decide which 30mph zones should become 20mph.
In 2023-24, North Ayrshire Council officers carried out a review of more than 2000 urban roads to identify which ones would be suitable for the slower limit.
Transport Scotland will fund new signage that is required and is working with councils to ensure the trunk road network running through communities - the A78, A737 and A738 in North Ayrshire - is subject to the same consideration as local roads.
There are no proposals to reduce the speed limit on the trunk road at West Kilbride and Seamill, but Transport Scotland is expecting to introduce the new limits on other trunk roads in July or August.
Surveys will be carried out across North Ayrshire before and after the new limit being introduced to allow the Council to gauge its impact. Also, all routes affected will be continually reviewed until the end of this year.
It has been recognised that any reduction in speed limits may increase bus journey times, making bus travel less appealing. So, to ensure that there is no negative effect on bus services, bus companies were consulted on the initial plans and changes were made to ensure that main bus routes would continue to operate effectively.
Cabinet will meet next week (Tuesday 3 June) to note the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for 20mph in Urban areas, discuss the proposed change in speed limit and agree to implementing it before the end of this year.
Please note: For more information on the 20mph speed limit proposals, see the full Cabinet report here Document.ashx
Published: 30 May 2025