Humza Yousaf and the SNP plot £45.6million 20mph scheme for 35,929 sections of ... trends now
The Scottish Government is plotting a £45million scheme to put 20mph speed restrictions on thousands of roads, despite a massive backlash to the Welsh version.
In September last year, Wales became the first country in the UK to reduce speed limits to 20mph in built-up residential areas, with a view to saving lives and cutting costs for the NHS.
But those living in the country revolted against the ULEZ-style clampdown by vandalising more than 150 of the new signs.
Lee Waters, the Labour minister who introduced the scheme, even announced he was resigning last month after he received a torrent of abuse on social media.
And now Scots are facing the same issues of battling gridlock and traffic jams after it was revealed the devolved government is planning to spend £45m of taxpayers' cash to fund a similar scheme.
A 20mph road sign that was defaced in Cwmbran, South Wales in October last year
A 20mph sign in Cardiff was covered in spray paint by protesting drivers in Wales
The Scottish Government is planning to spend £45million of taxpayers cash to fund a similar plan to the controversial 20mph scheme in Wales. Pictured is First Minister Humza Yousaf
Labour minister Lee Waters (pictured) who introduced the unpopular countrywide 20mph speed limit in Wales, announced he is resigning after receiving a torrent of abuse on Twitter
By 2025, new speed restrictions should be put in place on 35,929 sections of roads - the majority of the network across Scotland - excluding trunk roads and motorways.
The Scottish Daily Express reported the scheme will be done council by council and will require approximately £45.6m.
Graham Simpson, the Scottish Conservative shadow transport minister, told the newspaper it is an 'utterly flawed proposition' with an 'exorbitant cost'.
He slammed the plans as an 'anti-car policy', the bill for which would 'hammer' taxpayers.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson told the Scottish Express that if someone is hit by a moving vehicle at 30mph, they are seven times more likely to die than at 20mph.
It was reported that the £46m cost is an estimate and more discussions are needed to determine how much it will require.
The Scottish plan to roll out the new limits is slightly different to that of Wales, with a Scottish Task Group being established to set the 'most effective route for implementation'.
The restrictions 'will be applied on appropriate roads' and have already been widely implemented in several councils areas such as Edinburgh, Fife and Scottish Borders.
Instead of a blanket clampdown on reducing 30mph to 20mph, Scottish councils will consider which roads would benefit strategically.
In Wales, around 7,700 miles of urban and village roads across Wales changed from 30mph
