Speed limits in built-up areas in Wales will be reduced from 30mph to 20mph on Sunday, 17 September, while Police say the response will be proportionate and reasonable while drivers get used to the change.
GoSafe and Welsh police forces support the new national 20mph speed limit. Along with other partners such as Welsh Fire and Rescue Services, Local Authorities and Community Speed Watch groups, will be ‘engaging’ with motorists and communities, to ensure the new speed limit is respected.
The Welsh government said the 20mph national speed limit would reduce road collisions, road deaths, noise and pollution while encouraging more people to walk or cycle.
Latest official figures show more people were killed or seriously injured in 30mph zones in Wales last year than at any other speed limit. Of the 1,014 people killed or severely hurt on Welsh roads in 2022, more than 40% (421) were hit on a 30mph stretch of road.
The law will change the speed limit on about 35% of Welsh roads where lamp-posts are no more than 200 yards (183m) apart.
Police Response
Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman of North Wales Police, said that a period of “grace and education” would be needed to support people and communities through what she described as a “significant” change in road rules.
Speaking earlier this year, Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman said: “My approach is going to be one of deploying my resources in the areas of the highest harm. So that’s where I want to see our physical policing assets being placed.
“So if it’s an area where we’ve had people killed or serious injuries on a road where a 30 becomes a 20, then I’ll be interested in looking at those areas. If it’s that somebody is travelling through that area, and we’ve set some identified limits in relation to it – say for instance it is under 25 miles an hour – we will be looking at words of advice.
“If it’s up to 30 miles an hour, we will be looking at a there-and-then education programme working with Go Safe, Welsh Government, and with my officers to identify who is going to deliver that. Also, as part of that, we are looking at the Fire Service being part of the education programme as well.”
But she warned: “If it’s (they are travelling) over 30 (mph in a 20-mph zone), that position becomes untenable in relation to speeding. What I would say is one of the areas that I’m most concerned about at the moment are those coming onto our roads and losing their life, finding themselves in a position where they are way in excess of the speed limit or are, for instance, our motorcyclists coming into the area.
“So that’s where I want to prioritise my resources and always will be where the highest harm is that I can identify. That doesn’t mean we will be ignoring the 20 miles an hour (speed limit), but I want to see the evidence-based (approach) in relation to where I prioritise resources across there.”
She added: “I can’t imagine anybody being against 20 miles an hour (speed limit) outside schools or areas where people are particularly vulnerable, but there is a degree of education and grace that needs to go alongside that at this time when things are very difficult in our communities: the cost-of-living crisis, and (if for instance) people are finding themselves with additional fines and points on their licence. I want to take a very cautious approach with our communities in order to educate properly and to be able to support people through this quite significant change.”
Likely Police Response
20-25mph – Police say they will be looking at words of advice
25-30mph – Motorists will be given a “there-and-then education programme”
30mph and over – Motorists could potentially face fines, points and criminal proceedings depending on how far over the limit they are.
Go Safe
According to the GoSafe website enforcement will take place where it is needed to keep roads and communities safe, and will be carried out through a combination of mobile enforcement vehicles and fixed cameras, as is the case now.
The website states: “As a change in speed limit will influence driver behaviour, we will not be establishing new enforcement locations in 20mph areas in the immediate months following the legislation change, to allow driver behaviour to adjust. We will be working closely with our partners to provide roadside engagement and promote the change in driver behaviour. We will ensure that the new speed limits are respected during this time and will prosecute the most dangerous drivers.
“We will continue to consider new enforcement locations following collisions, or high-risk concerns, in a 20mph area.”
GoSafe will apply the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) guidelines which outline the enforcement thresholds of not less than 10% plus 2mph. While the public get used to the change in default limit, Chief Police Officers have allowed them to increase this to 10% plus 4mph in 20mph only, meaning they start to prosecute at 26mph in a 20mph limit.
In a survey by The Bangor Aye, 44.5% of people thought the new speed limits were a good idea while 55.5% didn’t agree.
