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Wales 20mph: Calls made for 1,500 roads to revert to 30mph (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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More than 10,500 requests have been received by Welsh councils from residents to reassess roads that saw their limit lowered when the policy was introduced in September last year.

Police point to a drop in road causalities and crashes to suggest Wales' flagship policy is working, although a recent poll said seven in 10 people still oppose the new limit.

One motoring organisation has said traffic calming measures like speed bumps should be installed to force drivers to do 20mph.

Welsh ministers said a 20mph limit would reduce deaths and noise and encourage people to walk or cycle when it was implemented in September 2023 - but it caused controversy with some drivers.

The limit changed on about 35% of Welsh roads - about 22,000 miles (35,171 km) in total - last year where lamp-posts are no more than 200 yards (183m) apart.
[…]
Statistics show a drop in casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads in Wales in the first three months of 2024, after the default built-up area limit was reduced.

The number of serious casualties or fatalities has dropped 23%, and Wales' largest police force says there have been at least 11 less deaths on the roads in their area.

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[–] theo 18 points 3 months ago (1 children)

As someone who lives in Wales and drives, cycles and walks around daily, I think this is a great policy, but poorly communicated and has been a target by populist politicians which has fed into the discontent.

Many people speed and break the limit anyway regardless of the speed limit. In my experience about 80% of cars will be sticking to 20 - either abiding by the limit or stuck behind someone keeping to it. The majority of people speeding will only speed up to ~30mph, which will be less than what they'll be speeding if the limit was at 30 originally.

It may vary by council, but I personally can't think of any roads near me that could do with reverting back up to 30 (that haven't already). Some main roads will still be 20, but then there are schools and residential on these roads which doesn't make sense to revert - but some people will still complain.

Personally I don't think this policy will ever have national popular support. It is a policy that directly affects someone's day to day rather than a stat which makes it a perfect candidate for people to complain about (potholes are similar). This is despite polling also saying that the vast majority support 20 outside their own house (but outside other people's houses should be reverted?).

I am kinda sick of how much this policy is brought up. It seems like every month there is a new article critiquing the limit and it is getting quite repetitive.