More than 25 residential roads in Inverness are soon to become 20mph zones.
Highland Council plans to impose traffic orders to routes in the Raigmore, Kingsmills and Dalneigh areas.
The move has been largely welcomed by road safety and cycling groups and community representatives.
A Highland Council spokeswoman said the orders relate to a number of traffic schemes that have been reviewed over a period, which were now coming to fruition.
She added: “There is a long lead in time to delivering changes to traffic orders as it involves a number of activities over time such as traffic counts, speed counts, data, accidents and street assessments, street design/ layout and suitability of proposed orders and public consultation. The advertised traffic orders are final opportunity for public comment.”
Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart, who has long campaigned on road safety issues, welcomed the move.
He said: “From a road safety perspective every argument states that you are more likely to survive an accident if you are hit at a slow speed and clearly that’s vitally important around key areas such as schools. The stats are clear.”
Statistics suggest that someone hit by a car travelling at 30mph has a 50% chance of being killed as a result, with the odds reduced to just 10% where a vehicle is going at 20mph.
Capital funding for the implementation of 20mph speed limit schemes in Highland communities has been approved at a level of £50,000 a year until 2022/23.
According to a report which went to the council’s planning, development and infrastructure committee in November, a programme of 17 sites for 20mph schemes have been identified.
The report shows that a scheme in the Merkinch area is also due to be delivered by the end of the financial year.
Other schemes due to be finished in this timeframe include Muir of Ord and Nairn, and others in the city centre and in Thurso are under development and due to be completed by spring 2018.
A priority list for scheme development based on collision analysis has been drawn up for 2018/19.
This includes Alness, Wick, Dingwall, Invergordon, Tain, Kingussie, Fort William, Maryburgh and Caol.
