Decisions made by the Scottish Government increasingly show a lack of understanding or regard for life in the Highlands, where one-size-fits-all policies fail to address the unique needs of rural communities.
The Highlands, with its expansive landscapes and remote settlements, has long faced challenges different from those of the densely populated Central Belt, yet government policies continue to prioritise urban issues at the expense of rural survival.
The 2014 reduction in the drink-driving limit devastated rural pubs, once vital hubs of social life in Highland communities.
Without viable public transport options, many Highlanders relied on a single drink with friends before safely driving home, but this change effectively cut off that lifeline, leaving pubs to close in droves and communities more isolated than ever.
Now, a new proposal to reduce speed limits on single carriageways from 60mph to 50mph threatens to deal another blow to Highland life.
For those living in rural areas, long-distance travel on single carriageways is a daily necessity for work, school, and accessing essential services.
Slower speeds would extend already lengthy journey times, adding stress and inefficiency to lives built around the region’s unique geography.
Tourism, the lifeblood of the Highland economy, could also suffer.
Visitors eager to explore remote locations might be deterred by the prospect of slower, less convenient travel.
This would particularly impact businesses in smaller communities that rely on tourism for survival.
The blanket approach to policymaking fails to acknowledge that the challenges of the Central Belt are not the same as those faced in the Highlands.
Unlike urban areas with alternative transport options, rural communities depend almost entirely on cars and motorcycles to stay connected, and further restrictions only make their lives harder.
Safety on Highland roads is a valid concern, but reducing speed limits might not be the solution.
Many accidents here result from poor weather, driver inexperience, or inadequate road maintenance, not excessive speed.
Addressing these root causes would do more for safety than imposing limits that frustrate drivers and encourage risky overtaking.
For too long, the Central Belt has been the focus of policy decisions, leaving the Highlands to bear the brunt of changes that don’t work for rural life.
Highland communities need investment in better infrastructure, not policies that isolate them further.
The Highlands deserves a government that listens, understands, and takes action to protect its unique way of life.
Instead, it faces another poorly thought-out policy that prioritises the needs of cities over the survival of Scotland’s most iconic region.
