My Parliamentary work is often led by casework that comes up time and time again. Borderers often express their frustration with me about the effects of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on our roads.
A key problem is that their speeds are limited to a greater extent than other vehicles on the road, which causes higher levels of congestion and means that drivers are having to spend a longer time on journeys.
Studies in England and Wales have shown that increasing speed limits for HGVs has had a positive effect on road safety, and has reduced congestion and, in some cases, pollution.
I have called on the Scottish Government to take the findings of this study in to account and change speed limits for HGVs to help ease congestion, improve safety and lower emissions. However, the Scottish Government refuse to do so without conducting their own study in to the matter.
I have asked several questions on this in Parliament over the last year, and will continue to push for these laws to be changed. The studies have been done, and the Scottish Government should not be wasting time and resources when the evidence for the change already exists.