Executive summary

“Achieving Car Use Reduction in Scotland: A Renewed Policy Statement” restates the Scottish Government and COSLA’s commitment to reducing car use in Scotland in a fair way. We are committed to doing so in a way which ensures that the equality, economic, and health and wellbeing benefits of car use reduction are experienced nationally

While the policy statement does not contain any individual interventions to reduce car use and is more of a high-level document, it does commit to four key next steps, which have been set out above.

This EQIA is comprised of evidence from published data sets and literature as well as feedback from statutory consultation on the draft route map document. Impacts are assessed against each protected characteristic group, as defined by the Equality Act (2010).

As a result of the consultation findings and this EQIA process, the renewed policy statement has been drafted to make clear that any proposed policy should not negatively impact people from marginalised groups, particularly disabled people who may rely on cars more heavily for mobility.

It is recommended that there is continued engagement and consultation with impacted groups on the detailed design of delivery plan(s), and in the development of any road user charging schemes at a local authority or regional transport partnership level.