DRIVERS would be limited to 20mph on most Scottish streets to help reduce serious accidents, under new plans published at Holyrood.

Launching his Safer Streets member’s Bill, Green MSP Mark Ruskell said he wanted to see a “social and cultural change” in attitudes towards road safety akin to that around seat belts.

If passed, the Bill would flip the current system in towns and cities, where the default limit is generally 30mph, but councils can apply to restrict it to 20mph in specific areas.

Under the proposal, the default limit would instead become 20mph, and councils would have to apply to make it 30mph.

The change would affect the C-class and unclassified local roads which make up around 60 per cent of all UK highways, but not arterial A and B class roads.

The idea has the support of around two dozen MSPs from all the parties at Holyrood bar the Tories, as well as support from the leaders of Glasgow and Edinburgh city councils.

The Scottish Government has not endorsed it, saying it believes councils are best placed to decide speed limits on the local roads they oversee, but will now examine more evidence.

The Bill documents say the expected costs to councils, principally signage, would be around £22m, based on previous small-scale roll-outs.

However a 10% fall in accidents could save the public purse close to £40m in police, NHS and economic costs, and previous trials have seen a 20% fall in accidents and fatalities.

People are seven times less likely to die if hit by a vehicle travelling at 20 rather than 30mph.

Campaigners for the change also say it would help reduce pollution and encourage more people to walk and cycle, because they would feel less threatened by traffic speeds.

Mr Ruskell said that if the Bill received strong support at Holyrood is could become law by the end of 2019, then phased in after a further 18 months.

He said: "As a local councillor and as an MSP I have seen first-hand the frustration of communities that want lower speed limits but find the current process overly-complicated.

“By making 20 the norm in built-up areas we can end this frustration and provide the clarity that residents and motorists deserve.”

Mark Beaumont, who became the fastest round-the-world cyclist by cycling 18,000 miles in under 79 days, said: "It's great to see Mark Ruskell's bill in the Scottish Parliament helping build the momentum on this issue and I hope we see it become law in the near future. This is about saving lives, reducing injuries and improving public health and enjoyment by making our streets safer and healthier places to cycle and walk.

“The current system of patchwork 20mph zones is time-consuming and costly for local councils, and confusing for road users. Scotland has a real chance to take a lead on this so let’s go for it.”

Emilia Hanna of Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “20mph zones make our streets safer and fairer for everyone using them, and are a vital part of the solution to air pollution.

“The faster people drive, the greater the risk of accidents, and the more off-putting it is for people to walk and cycle. Cars dominate our streets far too much already.

“There needs to be a much more level playing field between pedestrians, cyclists, public transport users and drivers. Slowing traffic is a key way to achieve this.”

But Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “To take drivers along with them the authorities need to explain not only what they are doing to improve safety but also how the changes will make people’s journeys smoother and more reliable.

“There will be many urban roads in Scotland where, given the congestion, drivers couldn’t get up to 20 mph even if they were allowed to.”

from Neil Grieg, Director of Policy and Research at IAM Roadsmart, said: “All roads differ in their form and function at a very detailed level and the limit should reflect that.

“This is why IAM RoadSmart does not favour a blanket approach to speed limits or a wholesale change in the urban limit from 30 to 20.

“If you want to change driver behaviour you need to spend more and change the character of the road. That means more high quality surfacing and shared space. Drivers will get the message and share the road even more safely than they do already.”

A spokesperson for government quango Transport Scotland said: “We are clear that 20 mile per hour speed limits are a good idea when implemented in the right environment.

“Given the varied nature of Scotland's urban road network and the number of factors which need considered when setting appropriate limits, we believe decisions on 20 mph speed limits are best taken at the local authority level.

“The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity met with Mark Ruskell MSP regarding his plans to bring forward a Member’s Bill on 20 mph speed limits and we look forward to seeing the detail of any legislative proposals submitted to Parliament.”