A major road safety project that has changed speed limits in communities across the Highlands has been recognised with one of Scotland’s leading transport awards.
The Highland Council’s Road Safety Team has won the Most Effective Road Safety, Traffic Management and Enforcement Project category at the Scottish Transport Awards for its Highlands wide 20mph programme.
The scheme has seen more than 600 kilometres of roads across 127 communities move from 30mph to 20mph limits, making it one of the largest projects of its kind undertaken anywhere in Scotland.
The programme was introduced following extensive consultation with communities across the Highlands, generating thousands of responses and helping shape how the changes were delivered.
Early findings suggest the project is already helping to reduce vehicle speeds, particularly in areas where higher speeds had previously been recorded.
The 20mph limits were made permanent by Highland councillors in 2025 and council officials say the initiative is contributing to safer driving behaviour and fewer collisions.
Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said:
“In the summer of 2022 the Council agreed to take on the opportunity provided by Transport Scotland for the early adoption of 20 mph speed limits in our Council area.
“To do a roll out on this scale has been a huge piece of work so firstly I want to pay credit to the many members of the public, community groups and my fellow councillors, for getting involved and providing valuable input to the process.
“The information gathered since we introduced 20mph across our towns, villages and settlements shows an encouraging reduction in collisions compared to those statistics before the 20mph speed limit was introduced.
“This is really very positive news.
“I would like to congratulate our Road Safety Team on this fantastic achievement.
“This award recognises not only the scale and ambition of the 20mph programme, but the real difference it is making in communities across the Highlands.
“By working closely with residents and taking a practical, evidence-based approach, the team has helped create safer, calmer streets for everyone.
“This is something we can all be proud of.”
The award recognises both the scale of the project and the impact it has had on communities throughout the region.
While the introduction of 20mph limits has sparked debate in some areas, supporters argue the programme is helping create safer environments for pedestrians, cyclists, residents and road users alike.
For the Council’s Road Safety Team, the national recognition marks a significant milestone in one of the largest road safety initiatives ever delivered across the Highlands.
