One sentence summary – The Welsh government has implemented a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads in an effort to improve road safety and reduce accidents, affecting approximately 7,700 miles of road in Wales; while drivers are cautioned against relying solely on sat-nav systems for speed limit information, fixed speed cameras will enforce the limit and offenders will be fined accordingly, and local authorities have the ability to make exemptions to the 20mph limit if they can provide strong evidence that higher speeds are safe.
At a glance
- The Welsh government has introduced a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads.
- Approximately 7,700 miles of road in Wales will see the speed limit reduced from 30mph to 20mph.
- Drivers have been cautioned against relying solely on sat-nav systems for speed limit information.
- Fixed speed cameras will enforce the 20mph limit and offenders will be fined accordingly.
- The change aims to reduce road collisions, noise, and pollution, and encourage walking and cycling.
The details
The Welsh government has introduced a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads.
This move is aimed at improving road safety and reducing accidents.
Approximately 7,700 miles of road in Wales will see the speed limit reduced from 30mph to 20mph.
These are roads where lamp-posts are no more than 200 yards apart.
This represents about 35% of Welsh roads.
Drivers have been cautioned against relying solely on sat-nav systems for speed limit information.
Some GPS firms may experience delays in updating their maps to reflect the new 20mph limit.
Police authorities in Wales have emphasized that enforcing the lower limit will be a “last resort” initially.
This approach is to allow drivers time to adjust to the change.
Fixed speed cameras, however, will enforce the limit and offenders will be fined accordingly.
Motorists are advised by the RAC to prioritize road signs indicating the speed limit rather than relying solely on sat-nav systems.
Local authorities have the ability to make exemptions to the 20mph limit.
They can do this if they can provide strong evidence that higher speeds are safe.
The Welsh government estimates that the impact on journey times will be minimal.
Drivers are expected to take less than one minute extra per trip on average.
The change aims to reduce road collisions, noise, and pollution.
It also aims to encourage walking and cycling.
The Welsh government estimates a yearly cost saving of £92 million for the Welsh NHS as a result.
Wales will be the first nation to implement a 20mph default speed limit on restricted roads.
This follows the UK’s first 20mph zone in Tinsley, Sheffield in 1991.
Public sentiment regarding the new limit is divided.
This was revealed by a Welsh government consultation and a recent poll.
In this poll, two-thirds of people in Wales opposed the change.
The Welsh government has committed to continuously reviewing the impact of the new speed limit.
This is to ensure its effectiveness and address any concerns that may arise.
The 20mph limit was part of both the Welsh Labour party’s manifesto and Plaid Cymru’s manifesto.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) endorses wider use of 20mph limits.
They see it as a cost-effective alternative to traditional traffic calming measures.
Tech giants Google and Garmin are actively working to update their mapping systems.
They aim to accurately reflect the new 20mph speed limit.
First Minister Mark Drakeford acknowledged the personal challenge of adapting to the lower speed.
However, he believes it is a small contribution toward saving lives.
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| bbc.co.uk |
|---|
| – Drivers in Wales have been warned not to rely on sat-navs for the speed limit on residential roads when it is reduced to 20mph from 30mph. – Some GPS firms say map updates might not be immediate when Wales adopts the 20mph limit. |
| – Police in Wales have said enforcing the lower limit will be a “last resort” as drivers adjust to the change. – |
| The RAC advises motorists to follow road signs for the speed limit and not rely on sat-nav systems. – |
| The new law will change the speed limit on about 35% of Welsh roads where lamp-posts are no more than 200 yards apart. |
| – 20mph signs will no longer be needed on those roads, except when the limit changes. |
| – House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt criticized the policy, calling it “insane. |
| ” – The Welsh government estimates that the change will save the Welsh NHS £92m a year. – The UK’s first 20mph zone was implemented in Tinsley, Sheffield in 1991. – Wales will become the first nation to impose a 20mph default speed limit on restricted roads. – Road safety group Brake has called for the 20mph default limit to be extended to England. – |
| The Welsh government believes the new limit will reduce road collisions, noise, and pollution and encourage walking and cycling. – Official figures show that more people were killed or seriously injured in 30mph zones in Wales last year than at any other speed limit. – |
| The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) supports wider use of 20mph limits as a cost-effective alternative to traffic calming measures. – Approximately 7,700 miles of road in Wales will change from 30mph to 20mph. – |
| The impact on journey times is expected to be small, with drivers taking less than one minute extra on average per trip. – Drivers caught by fixed speed cameras will be fined for exceeding the 20mph limit. |
| – Police officers will initially use discretion when enforcing the new limit, focusing on education for the first 12 months. |
| – Google and Garmin are working to update their mapping systems to reflect the new speed limit. |
| – Local authorities can make exemptions to the 20mph limit if they can provide strong evidence that higher speeds are safe. – Respondents to a Welsh government consultation were divided on the speed limit, and a recent poll found that two-thirds of people in Wales opposed the change. |
| – |
| The Welsh government will continuously review the impact of the new limit. – |
| The 20mph plan was part of the Labour party’s Welsh manifesto and was also in Plaid Cymru’s manifesto. – |
| First Minister Mark Drakeford admitted that it is not easy for him to adapt to the lower speed but believes it is a small contribution to saving lives. |
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