We as human beings are never fully protected against the dangers that daily life presents. However, authorities are doing their utmost to ensure the safety of people, and often implement new regulations to improve safety. This includes implementing speed limits of 20 mph, which has become the new normal in Wales and beyond. Scotland is now pushing to lock in the end of 2025 pledge by embracing the new normal in October. See how this new normal could affect you when you travel in Scotland.
The UK roads will be seeing new speed limits
The UK Government has reported a 1% increase in fatalities and a minor change in killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties in road collisions in 2024. Compared to the year before, the increase indicated 1,6333 fatalities and 29,537 KSI casualties. Experts believe that road safety and speed limits have a direct relationship, as higher speeds result in greater impact forces and thus more severe, often lethal, collisions.
This is in part why speed limits in the UK are starting to change one city at a time. The UK Government has listed the following reasons to advocate speed limit changes:
- Slower speeds have environmental benefits, as less fuel is consumed and less carbon is emitted
- It will align with the Vision Zero Goal of eliminating road deaths and serious injuries
- Ensures the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists
- Improves the quality of life by decreasing congestion
20 mph is the new normal in Wales
Wales has embraced the new normal by implementing the newly approved national speed limit. On 17 September 2023, Wales officially implemented the new policy. According to a report by the BBC, the Welsh Government argued that the new limit would be the most successful road safety intervention in modern times, as evidence suggested a decrease in collisions and serious injuries.
However, this new policy has evoked some mixed emotions, as a record-breaking petition was sparked against it. What’s more, new data from GoSafe has indicated that despite the 20 mph speed limit, 112,699 speeding offences have taken place up to March 2025 since its implementation. While the Welsh have voiced their unhappiness with the new normal, we wonder whether the Scots will be more receptive?
Scotland is also embracing the new normal
According to the Glasgow City Council, most of the city’s streets will be embracing the new 20 mph speed limit. This move supports the greater pledge of the National Strategy for 20 mph, intending to implement the safer speed limit across built-up regions in Scotland by the end of 2025. The Glasgow City Council believes that the new speed limit will:
- Enhance road safety
- Encourage walking, wheeling, and cycling in quiet and less congested neighbourhoods.
After a detailed analysis of 5,740 streets was conducted, as of February 2025, it was proposed that 3,690 streets would have to lower their speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph. While many may struggle to accept the new normal, it is much better than the 10 mph cap that the UK Government has been floating around. While the other limits are to address road safety, this one would be to address congestion as a primary focus.
Accepting change does not come as easily for some as it does for others, which has been proved by the number of speeding offences in Wales! However, the fact of the matter remains that road safety is an issue in the UK, and seeing as the numbers support the 20 mph speed limits as a feasible solution to improve road safety, perhaps we must all start to embrace them. For more information concerning the new speed limit implementation in Scotland, please visit the official Transport Scotland website.
