The A9/A99 Trunk Road Latheron Temporary 40mph Order 2026: implications for UK health and safety law and business continuity

The A9/A99 Trunk Road Latheron Temporary 40mph Order 2026 and UK health and safety law: what duty holders and senior leaders need to know

What has changed

The A9/A99 Trunk Road (Latheron) (Temporary 40mph Speed Restriction) Order 2026 introduces a temporary 40 mph speed limit on a specified section of the A9/A99 trunk road near Latheron. The measure is a road safety intervention designed to lower vehicle speeds in proximity to road works, incidents or hazard zones and to reduce the risk of serious injury to road users and workers. The order is enforceable under road traffic regulations in force in Scotland and is overseen by the relevant traffic authority and the police.

Why it matters for UK health and safety law and business

For organisations with routes that traverse the affected section, the change directly affects transport risk management, duty to protect workers and the public from road traffic hazards and the requirement to monitor and control work activities that rely on road networks. The change intersects with HSE requirements for safe systems of work for road transport, risk assessment for journeys, contractor management and operational planning. It also emphasises the importance of governance and competent advice in maintaining regulatory compliance across the supply chain.

Where works are ongoing, drivers and mobile workers may face increased journey times, altered delivery windows and scheduling pressures. This elevates the risk of fatigue, rushed decision making and non compliance with traffic restrictions if not managed properly. Organisations should treat this as a live control measure in their risk assessments and transport management procedures.

Key duties for employers and steps to achieve compliance

1. Update transport risk assessments to reflect the new speed limit and potential delays on affected routes.
2. Review route planning, carrier selection and delivery windows to align with revised travel times.
3. Communicate changes to all road users including drivers, contractors and suppliers and capture acknowledgements.
4. Incorporate the new limit into driver briefings, onboarding and refresher training and ensure adherence by monitoring on road performance.
5. Revisit contractor management to confirm that road works teams coordinate with your operations to minimise disruption and risk.
6. Ensure the organisation’s health and safety management system aligns with new control measures, including ISO 45001 practices where appropriate. See ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management.
7. Consult with workers and unions if present to capture local knowledge about safety practices on the affected stretch.
8. Review incident reporting and near miss processes to capture any road transport related events for learning and continuous improvement.

Enforcement and sanctions

Compliance with the temporary speed restriction is enforceable by the police and traffic authorities. Breaches may carry penalties and civil liability if they contribute to a collision or cause injury. Organisations should not rely on hope that enforcement will be lenient; instead they should actively manage the risk as part of their safe systems of work for road transport.

What to do next

Update risk assessments, revise policies, adapt training and adjust planning processes. Consider appointing a competent person to review road safety controls on routes used by your business. Leveraging Synergos support can help with implementing or integrating ISO 45001 and risk assessment improvements. See Competent Person support.

For a systematic approach to integrating road safety controls into your management system, explore ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management.

Health and safety risk assessments for road transport changes can help ensure hazard identification and control measures are robust.

More detail on methods and governance is available through Synergos Consultancy if you need strategic support to implement changes.

Review contractor road use and align with existing supplier safety requirements to prevent disruption and maintain compliance.

Wrap up

Temporary road speed restrictions are a practical reminder of the need to manage health and safety risks in transport operations. The change requires timely action and practical planning to protect workers and maintain business continuity under UK health and safety law.