Caithness Chamber of Commerce sign joint letter opposing move to reduce speed limit to 50mph on single carriageways
Caithness Chamber of Commerce has joined business organisations across the Highlands and Moray to raise concerns about proposals to reduce the national speed limit on single carriageway roads from 60mph to 50mph.
Chief executives for chambers covering Caithness, Moray, Inverness and the West Highlands have put their names to a joint letter to Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop warning the move would harm connectivity, further disadvantage rural communities, and fail to deliver intended improvements to road safety.
Trudy Morris, chief executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said: "The business community in the Highlands and Moray already faces significant challenges due to our transport infrastructure. Slowing our major routes even further risks putting our economy at a disadvantage compared to the rest of Scotland.
“We need investment in better roads, not policies that make them slower and less effective for the people and businesses who rely on them every day."
Representing more than 1600 businesses the Chambers state the regions already suffer from inadequate transport infrastructure, with the delayed dualling of the A9 and A96, long-neglected local roads in poor condition, and limited public transport coverage.
They also argue that deteriorating road surfaces, poor markings, and insufficient maintenance are far greater safety risks than the existing national speed limit and warn that lowering the limit could lead to increased driver frustration, potentially prompting unsafe overtaking and heightening accident risks.
For businesses and residents who rely heavily on road travel, particularly in remote areas, the change would lengthen already challenging journey times, impacting economic growth and quality of life.
They state: “We believe that journey times will inevitably increase, and this will further disadvantage our business community and hamper growth. It is also worth highlighting the potential socioeconomic and health consequences of reduced speed limits, particularly for labouring mothers travelling by road to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness from Caithness and Lochaber.
“With £100bn potential of ‘transformational’ projects in the Highlands and Islands over the next 15 years, the Highlands and Moray need roads and transport connectivity fit for the 21st century and beyond.
“We urge the Scottish Government to have a more holistic view of road safety. This should look beyond speed considerations on urban roads networks and consider the implications for rural areas and the significant and immediate dangers posed by the poor standard of the road network.”
The proposed changes aim to improve road safety as part of Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030.
This includes reducing the national speed limit on single carriageway roads from 60mph to 50mph for cars and vans and increasing speed limits for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageways and from 50mph to 60mph on dual carriageways.
Sarah Medcraf, Chief Executive of Moray Chamber of Commerce, said, "This is about more than just speed limits – it’s about recognising the unique transport realities of rural Scotland.
“Our communities travel long distances for work, healthcare, and education, often with no viable public transport alternative. Reducing the limit to 50mph will not solve the real safety issues, but it will slow down our economy and our daily lives."