Statistics show you are seven times more likely to survive being hit by a vehicle travelling at 20 mph, rather than 30 mph.
The speed of a vehicle directly influences the risk of a collision, as well as the severity of injuries sustained, and the likelihood of death resulting from that collision.
Lowering speed limits reduces driving speeds, which then reduces road casualties, which is why Transport Scotland, the national agency who deliver the Scottish Government's vision for transport, are aiming to reduce driving speed in every town, city, and village across Scotland.
By reducing the speed limit to 20 mph on all appropriate urban areas in every area of Scotland, it aims to make Scotland safer, reducing accidents and fatalities, and encouraging active travel, such as walking and cycling.
This is backed up by organisations such as National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend 20 mph where people and motor vehicles mix.
West Lothian Council is committed to making our streets safer, and to the transformation of our towns to ensure people are prioritised over motor vehicles increasing the options for people to walk, wheel or cycle when they make every day short journeys.
Managing the levels of vehicle speed is one of the biggest challenges faced in road safety. Many drivers do not recognise the risks involved with speeding and often, for them, the perceived advantages outweigh the perceived problems that can result from it.
How is the scheme being implemented in West Lothian?
In West Lothian, it is proposed to introduce the scheme in three phases, starting with the areas with most residents first in line with the approved West Lothian Parking Strategy.
This means:
Phase 1: Livingston (including Polbeth and West Calder) and Bathgate and Blackburn
Phase 2: Broxburn and Uphall; Linlithgow; Armadale; and Whitburn
Phase 3: the rest of West Lothian's settlements covered in phase three
Details of Phase 1 will be available by the end of September 2025, including maps of the streets for each area affected.
Phase 2 details are expected to be published in Autumn 2026, with Phase 3 following in Autumn 2027.
Tell us your views
We will be implementing the new speed limits for Phase 1 areas during Winter 2025/26. Once they are in place, we will consult with residents on how the new speed limits are working in their area. Details of how to take part will be available once the new limits are in place.
FAQs
There is a proven link between higher speed and the risk of being involved in a collision. The higher the speed, the less time to react to changes in the environment, which increases the risk of a collision.
Research informs us that lower speeds result in fewer collisions and a reduced severity of injuries; and that casualties are reduced when speeds are lowered.
This helps reduce the impact on the number of people requiring medical attention and how much support they require, reducing the burden on health services.
Yes, every local authority in Scotland will be reducing limits to 20 mph in appropriate urban areas. Many councils such as Highland, Scottish Borders, Edinburgh and Fife have already done so.
In Scotland, local authorities will be able to consider which roads are appropriate for 20 mph limits based on Transport Scotland's criteria.
Transport Scotland are provided all councils with ring-fenced funding to cover the scheme, which cannot be used for any other purpose.
Police Scotland remain responsible for enforcing the new 20 mph limits in West Lothian and across Scotland.
Transport Scotland's guidance states that presumption is that all 30 mph urban roads are appropriate for a lower speed limit of 20 mph unless there is strong justification otherwise.
In general, a road suitable to remain at 30 mph will typically be on A and B Class roads with little frontage activity and where people walking, wheeling, and cycling do not need to share space with motor traffic.
The implementation has been left to individual local authorities in consultation with the local community to set appropriate speed limits for roads in their area using local knowledge.
The assessment criteria for agreeing which roads would be appropriate for 20 mph limits was set by a panel of experts including: the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS); Local and Strategic Road authorities; Police Scotland; and Transport Scotland.
The pre-defined criteria consider a number of factors, where a greater level of vulnerable road user is expected. These include: the level of frontage (buildings, houses, shops etc.) and the presence of education and key community facilities nearby; formal walking and cycling routes; key buildings or areas such as a place of worship, sporting facility/ play park, a hospital or health centre.
West Lothian Council has already agreed to implement the national scheme at a meeting of Council Executive on 18 February 2025.
Every council in Scotland has already implemented, or is in the process of implementing, the scheme, so West Lothian's roads would become dangerous than any other local authorities if the scheme was not introduced here.
Reducing speed limits on all appropriate urban roads is a preventative measure to increase road safety and prevent casualties.
This is separate to the council's Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP) scheme, which targets investment in making specific roads safer where there is evidence of casualties. The Road Safety Improvement Fund for 2025/26 from Transport Scotland was £493,233, so this limited funding must be prioritised on roads where there is strong evidence of casualties.
Transport Scotland's guidance states that for an urban road to be suitable to remain at 30 mph, it will typically be on A and B Class roads with little frontage activity and where people walking, wheeling, and cycling do not need to share space with motor traffic.
Details of how to feedback on the proposals will be available once the Phase 1 implementation begins during Winter 2025/26.
Unless you are making an extended journey though urban areas, then there should only be a minimal increase in journey times. A recent study estimated that the change will add around 30 seconds to a two-mile trip, or one minute for a five-mile journey, through a town.
There is no evidence that driving at 20 mph damages modern cars when driven correctly, in a smooth and consistent way.
Only accelerating up to 20 mph rather than 30 mph should save fuel.
Maintaining a smooth and consistent driving style is the best was to preserve fuel. Stopping and starting burns up more energy, so avoid unnecessary speeding up and slowing down.
Yes, slower traffic speeds can make people to feel more comfortable walking or cycling, so can encourage more active travel.
Lowering speed limits can also result in broader health impacts. They can reduce the perception of road danger, which may encourage active mobility, namely walking and cycling for transportation. Improved physical activity levels lead to better physical health and increasing longevity.
Traffic-induced noise accounts for 80% of all communal noise sources in urban areas, and 20 mph speed limits can reduce acoustic energy levels by half. Environmental noise has been linked to sleep disorders, heart disease, stress and, among children, decreased school performance.
Slower and calmer driving can reduce emission rates for carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen. Vehicle speed was found to be a strong contributing factor to the degree of heavy metal contamination in road dust, so air quality should improve when speeds are lower.
Yes. Cars currently account for almost 40% of transport emissions. By encouraging people to feel safer walking or cycling, it could lead to more people reducing their use of vehicles and cut transport emissions.
The need for traffic calming measures will be considered as part of the scheme. If required, we will apply to Transport Scotland for funding for any calming schemes that are required.
Speed limits of 20 mph were introduced in West Lothian during 2020 on a temporary basis in response to the Covid19 pandemic, governed by the Scottish Government's guidelines for 'Spaces for People' programme to help promote active and essential travel at the time.
This is different from the Scottish Government's new national strategy for 20 mph speed limits across the whole of Scotland, which aims to reduce driving speeds to reduce accidents and fatalities as a priority.
Using learning from 'Spaces for People', the introduction of 20mph speed limits on appropriate urban roads across West Lothian will be introduced using a three-tiered approach, with more road signage in more appropriate locations being introduced to make it more obvious for drivers.
We will also consider residents feedback during this process to determine any changes that may be deemed necessary before the speed limits are made permanent.
