In the latest attempt to make Scotland’s roads “the safest in the world,” Transport Scotland has unveiled a bold, some might say baffling, proposal to slow down cars while giving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) a speed boost. That’s right, the humble family car will soon be crawling at 50mph on single carriageways, while 44-tonne HGVs roar alongside them at the same speed. Should you find yourself on a dual carriageway, don’t be surprised if that lorry overtakes you as it zips along at 60mph.
The plan, currently under public consultation, has already sparked outrage among motorists. “Ridiculous and hypocritical,” one driver fumed. “Lorry drivers already go fast enough, tailgate constantly, and now we’re giving them the green light to go even faster? What could possibly go wrong?”
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop claims the change is based on “evidence” from the National Speed Management Review, which promises fewer collisions and improved journey time reliability. Curiously, this promise comes despite 2023 statistics showing 30 casualties and two fatalities caused by collisions involving HGVs. But apparently, faster HGVs are the solution to… road safety?
The proposal has so far attracted almost 9,000 responses, with plenty of mixed reviews. Some optimistically agree that certain roads might benefit from lower speed limits for cars. Others warn of “disastrous consequences,” with cars crawling along while trucks thunder past in a cloud of irony, exhaust, and shattered nerves.
Transport Scotland insists the consultation process is about listening to the people, though it seems the feedback so far is less about constructive suggestions and more about shouting into the void. With the consultation set to close in March 2025, only time will tell whether Scotland’s roads become a beacon of logic—or a chaotic, slow-moving car park overtaken by a convoy of runaway lorries. Buckle up, folks. It’s going to be a bumpy, and now slower (or faster?), ride.
