New initiative to provide additional training for motorcyclists and young drivers following a successful speed limit trial.
By Kirsty Lennox
••2 min read
AI
Generic image of motorcyclist and young driver's hands on controls with road safety symbols.
The Scottish Borders Council has secured £75,000 in funding from Transport Scotland to extend its 50mph speed limit trial and launch a new road safety initiative for motorcyclists and young drivers.
The 50mph speed limit trial, which has been in place on the A7, A708, A6088, and B6357 since April 2025, will now be extended to April 2028. Early findings indicate a significant reduction in road casualties on these routes.
An independent evaluation found that casualties across all road user groups fell from 22 in 2024 to 8 in 2025. Specifically, the A6088 saw no casualties in 2025, compared to three motorcycle fatalities in 2024, and casualties on the A7 dropped from 15 to 5.
The scheme is funded through Transport Scotland’s Road Safety Improvement Fund. An additional £75,000 from the Road Safety Framework Fund will support the new Scottish Borders Riders and Drivers Safety Initiative. This initiative will offer additional training opportunities for 200 motorcyclists and 200 young drivers, aiming to enhance their skills and knowledge.
The initiative will be delivered in partnership with Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and local instructors. Edinburgh Napier University will conduct an independent evaluation of the programme's impact.
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"Following the reduction in road casualties since the introduction of the 50mph trial, an extension of the initiative is very welcome. Unfortunately, motorcyclists and young drivers appear in the crash data proportionally more than other road users, so the opportunity of this external funded training is fantastic. I would encourage parents and carers of young drivers to encourage their young people to take up the free training opportunities that will be available in the new year."
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"I am pleased that the Scottish Government is providing £75,000 to support this vital road safety initiative for motorcyclists and young drivers in the Scottish Borders. The Scottish Borders Riders and Drivers Safety Initiative will help participants gain additional skills and experience beyond their initial test, supporting safer journeys for everyone using the region’s road network. Road safety initiatives such as this will help us move closer to our long-term vision of a Scotland where nobody is killed or seriously injured on our roads."
Both projects are part of the council's ongoing commitment to improving road safety and reducing deaths and serious injuries, particularly among vulnerable road users.
