In 2023 the Highlands & Islands Council started a trial to lower the speed limits for built-up areas from 30 mph (48 km/h) to 20 mph (32 km/h). The trial was started in 127 locations like Inverness, Nairn, Wick, Thurso. The results of this trial must have been quiet overwhelming that the Highlands & Islands Council decided on May 29, 2025 to finalise the trial and made the speeds limits permanent.
The broader intent was to lower accidents, to lower the death rate and a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians. The results speak for themselves. Animated by the results some of the neighbouring councils decided to follow the example to lower the speed limits in built-up areas. Therefore there are some changes that especially are important for tourists.
From April 1st, 2026 the lowered speed limits in buil-up areas are also in place in Morayshire, Aberdeenshire and Dundee. The Scottish Police as also the council traffic wardens will enforce the new speed limits (at least at the beginning of this new speed limits in place). The frequency in which Police Scotland and the involved council speed check vans are doing speed checks is increased over the last couple of weeks. Also the APNR vehicles are more often on the raod at the moment.
Tourists have to be aware that the enforcement will make sure that outstanding speed tickets have to be paid directly. Police Scotland will not issue you a ticket to be paid later but charge you on scene. If you can’t pay or deny payment Police Scotland will restraint the violator and the vehicle until the ticket is fully paid.
Police Scotland doesn’t accept cash nor asks you to pay cash. Police Scotland as also the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) always use contactless 
payments like credit / debit cards (
/ 
), 
Apple Pay / 
Google Pay and sometimes even 
Paypal. Other payment methods are normally not accepted. You can also pay online or via smartphone and direct transfer.
The following credit / debit cards will be accepted
- Mastercard / Debit Mastercard
- Visa / Visa Debit
The following credit cards might not be accepted
Amercian Express
UnionPay
Discover
Diners Club- Prepaid Credit Cards (except they are loaded with a covered amount of money)
Please be aware that the fine / ticket can become pretty expensive, the fines in Scotland (U.K.) are higher than in Germany. I don’t know the fines in Austria or Switzerland but they fines in Germany are definitely lower than here in Scotland.