The SNP’s centralist policies often suit the central belt but fail the highlands.
One size does not fit all, yet that’s the approach being taken.
What works for Edinburgh is rarely what works for Fort William, Mull, Mallaig, or Dingwall.
Take the proposed reductions in speed limits, for instance—a move that is tone-deaf to the realities of rural life.
Public transport in the highlands is patchy at best, forcing residents to rely on cars to get around.
Reducing speed limits here isn’t about safety; it’s about imposing city-centric policies on areas that don’t fit the mould.
The Queensferry Crossing is an impressive engineering feat, but the money poured into it could have upgraded roads across all of Scotland.
That investment would have benefited communities far beyond Edinburgh, which conveniently houses the Scottish Parliament.
People in the highlands need to stand up and say enough is enough.
Policies shaped for the central belt don’t address the unique challenges of rural Scotland.
Speed limits, like other decisions, need to reflect the needs of each area, not blanket rules imposed from afar.
Road safety is crucial, but it’s not speed that’s the main issue—it’s bad driving.
Rather than lowering limits, the focus should be on driver education and tackling genuinely reckless behaviour.
Technology in modern cars makes them far safer than when speed limits were first introduced.
Back then, the Morris Minor was the average car, with no seatbelts, no airbags, and certainly no ABS.
Today’s vehicles come equipped with lane assistance, emergency braking, and even semi-autonomous driving.
Yet policymakers treat 2024 like it’s still 1955.
Blanket speed reductions ignore these advancements and penalise competent, careful drivers.
Rural roads differ vastly from urban streets, but these proposals lump them together as if they’re the same.
This lazy policymaking creates frustration without improving safety.
We need smarter, data-driven approaches that consider local conditions.
The current direction risks alienating highlanders, turning minor infractions into costly fines, and feeding mistrust.
It’s not about making roads safer; it’s about exerting control and boosting fine revenue.
If safety were the true goal, investment would go into better public transport and advanced driver training.
Instead, we see a heavy-handed approach that doesn’t serve our communities.
Highlanders deserve policies that respect their way of life, not ones dictated by urban priorities.
The Scottish Government has consistently failed the highlands and north-east when it comes to road infrastructure.
The A82 remains a dangerous and outdated route, while promises to upgrade the A9 have dragged on with little to show for it.
The A96, a vital link for the north-east, also suffers from chronic underinvestment and delays in promised improvements.
These roads are lifelines for the communities they serve, yet they’re treated as afterthoughts compared to projects in the central belt.
It’s time for those in the highlands to make their voices heard and demand fair treatment.
Scotland’s diversity should be its strength, not an excuse for one-size-fits-all rules.
The highlands need practical solutions, not central belt fixes imposed from Holyrood.
Enough is enough—the highlands deserve better.