Worst accidents happen on roads where speeds are slashed to 20mph
By MICHAEL BLACKLEY FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL
Published: 19:18, 25 December 2025 | Updated: 19:18, 25 December 2025
More serious accidents have happened on roads where the speed limit has been reduced to 20mph than on motorways and dual carriageways, latest figures have shown.
An average of 176 serious casualties a year have been reported on the slower roads in the period from 2020 to 2024, compared to an annual average of 139 on roads where the speed limit is 70mph, according to official statistics.
The figure led to calls for SNP[1] ministers to look again at the policy supporting the rollout of the speed limits.
Ministers abandoned plans to lower the speed limit on single carriageway roads from 60mph to 50mph following opposition in a public consultation.
Scottish Tory[2] transport spokesman Sue Webber said: 'These concerning figures confirm the SNP's one-size-fits-all approach to rolling out 20mph zones is simply not working.
'This is all too typical of the SNP who arrogantly believe they know best and have pressed ahead without considering the impact it will have on motorists and wider road safety.
Twenty's plenty according to the signs... but it can't prevent serious accidents
Critics say the 'one size fits all' approach to cutting speed limits isn't working
'SNP -ministers must use these figures to look again at this policy or they will be responsible for more serious incidents occurring on our roads.'
The data was contained in Transport Scotland's road casualties report for 2024.
It shows the annual averages for the five years from 2020 to 2024.
On 20mph roads, an average of six people a year were killed, while there were a total of 550 casualties, including 176 which were defined as serious.
There were 2,176 casualties on 30mph roads, including 676 which were serious, and 32 deaths.
On 70mph roads, which are motorways or dual carriageways, there were 567 casualties a year, including 139 which were serious, as well as 15 deaths.
The SNP Government previously said it supports implementing 20mph speed limits on all roads 'where it is appropriate to do so'.
The AA motoring group has said 20 mph speed limits should be restricted to roads where there is a clear need, such as outside schools, hospitals, train stations, bus stations and other places where pedestrians and cyclists will be encountered in numbers.
It has argued that overuse of 20mph speed limits dilutes their impact.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Reducing excessive speed is a key focus of our work to improve road safety in -Scotland.
'Research shows that if someone is hit by a car at 20mph, they are seven times more likely to survive than if they were hit at 30mph.
'To be clear, there is no blanket approach to 20mph delivery.
Instead we work with roads authorities to identify appropriate roads using nationally agreed criteria.'