A consultation into plans to increase the speed limit in Scotland for HGVs has already attracted nearly 9,000 responses – and there’s still two months left before it closes, reports Motor Transport.

Transport Scotland is gathering opinions on increasing the limit for goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes on single carriageways from 40mph to 50mph and on dual carriageways from 50mph to 60mph.

At the same time, it is proposing to lower the speed limit for other vehicles on single carriageways from 60mph to 50mph.

Increasing the limit for lorries would bring Scotland into line with England and Wales and could help boost efficiency and cut CO2 emissions.

Transport Scotland said it was rolling out a series of ‘in person engagement events’ in January and February, which would enable the public to ask questions about the plans. The consultation opened on 27 November and it has already received over 8,700 responses.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Road safety is a priority for the Scottish government and we remain absolutely committed to working towards our ambitious goal of making Scotland’s roads the safest in the world by 2030.”