Cameron Brooks
A business group and two north MSPs have poured cold water on a controversial proposal to reduce the speed limit on all roads by 10mph to tackle climate change.
Andy Willox, policy convener of the Federation of Small Businesses, said it was unlikely that members would support the idea mooted by SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson.
The Aberdeen-based businessman said a decrease in speed limits would result in more time spent travelling and less with customers.
North-east Conservative MSP Nanette Milne said the former transport and environment minister’s proposal could “cause greater driver frustration and increase cost for businesses”.
And Highland Labour MSP Dave Stewart said that while the environment was a key issue, claiming a reduction in speed limits for cars, not lorries, would be the answer was “over simplistic”.
Mr Stevenson claimed the reduction would not cost much to implement, save drivers money and research into the potential benefits must be carried out.
The MSP, who has a private pilot license, said: “It would not be popular but I do not care because I will be 70 next year.”
But Mr Willox said: “It seems unlikely that the majority of Scottish small business owners would support this measure.
“For many firms, a car or van is critical to their operations – an across the board decrease in speed limits would see more time spent in transit, and less with customers.”
Mr Stewart said he was “sceptical” that reducing speed limits would save the planet.
“In relation to the emissions argument, cars now-a-days are much more efficient than they have ever been and strict EU guidelines mean they have to be improving all the time,” he added.
Mrs Milne said she was concerned the proposal would lengthen journey times, affect traders, bus timetables and slow down traffic unnecessarily.
“We have expressed concern that the government is moving towards introducing average speed cameras on the A96 and other local roads after the general election,” she added.
“The fact that Stewart Stevenson is calling for the speed limit on all roads to be reduced has let the cat out of the bag.”
Transport Scotland has said it had no current plans to introduce average speed cameras on other roads despite the success of the scheme on the A9 between Inverness and