20mph default speed limit policy wins second prestigious award
The Welsh Government has won a top award for the roll out of its 20mph default speed limit policy.
The Prince Michael International Road Safety Award is one of the most prestigious accolades in the field of road safety in the world.
The award was presented by Prince Michael at a ceremony in London on December 10th.
The judging panel concluded that in making a national default speed limit of 20mph, the Welsh Government had “changed the narrative in Wales”.
Backlash
The controversial road regulation was rolled out in in built-up areas in September last year.
It initially attracted a backlash with almost half a million people signing a Senedd petition calling for the policy to be axed.
But data shows that the change led to 28% fewer road casualties in its first 9 months of its implementation.
Devolved
The roll out followed 5 years of planning by the Welsh Government after the ability to set national speed limits was devolved in 2018.
After the concept of a national default 20mph for built up areas gained cross-party support in Wales, the Welsh Government set up a multi-agency and stakeholder task force in 2019 to recommend how it could be achieved.
The task force reported in 2020 and legislation was passed in 2022 for a roll out in September 2023 with local authorities able to make exceptions.
Significant
Rod King MBE, chair of 20’s Plenty for Us CIC said: “This recognition at global level of success of the Welsh Government’s 20mph default is hugely significant.
“20mph as a norm for urban/village streets is now not only recognised as ‘global best practice’ but also effective in providing transformational change to the liveability of communities and creating people-oriented streets.
“This becomes a foundation for so many other interventions that are possible when speeds are lower. Fewer casualties across the whole population are on a scale which is unprecedented in terms of effectiveness and value for money.
“Well done Wales for using a default 20mph to make all Welsh places better places to be.”
Case study
The award came just a week after the body that helped co-ordinate the road regulation won an accolade for its part in the policy’s roll out.
The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) presented the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) with the Alun Griffiths Award for Health, Safety and Wellbeing earlier this month.
CIHT recently published a report on “Progressing the UK towards Safe System implementation” which references Wales as a case study in support of its call for setting more survivable lower national default speeds limits.
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The interesting thing here is ‘cross party support’. That included RT holding up his ‘20’s plenty’ sign. Then he and one other in the Senedd Tory group went on their protracted ‘blanket’ lie rant conveniently failing to point out that vast areas of London are subject to the same limits. It was purely an anti Welsh wedge issue designed to heap vitriol on our country by angering those who steadfastly wish to keep it under Empire colonial control. Shame on the pair of them.
Well, if you looked at the A483 in Llandrindod you wouldn’t know the limit existed. Maybe a life-sized cardboard cut-out of the WLGA person to stand on the kerb would work better.
Our town has long been the capital of Wales in terms of ignoring speed limits and parking restrictions, including gratuitous and flagrantly dangerous pavement parking.
At least the 20 limit on the A483 means that traffic now travels at 30 rather than 40. I count that as a win. Of sorts.
ARTD new news letter will be shouting about how Uncle Albert should keep out f Welsh Politics, just like ARTD does.
What exactly does the Labour Party have against Lee Waters? He’s undoubtedly one of the most articulate members of the Senedd—quick on his feet, unlike certain AMs we could mention. Time and again, he’s been proven right—not just on this issue but on countless others. Frankly, he should be in the Cabinet. Yet, with him stepping down at the next election, it’s looking like an open goal for Reform. I just can’t wrap my head around it. I always thought he was destined to be First Minister. Is this all because he was a loyal lieutenant to Ron Davies? Are… Read more »
ok, so here we have the use of the bandied about term “default”, that aTCd was sanctioned for by the senedd as it was not considered a “blanket” speed nor a default that would rely on it being the absolute majority of roads. we know that is not the case. so an award for a default speed is most odd me thinks???
What do you think default means? To most it’s a preset value like the factory set brightness on your new tv that’s appropriate in most situations but can be changed if necessary. That’s different to a blanket brightness level that would be the same on every new tv sold but without the ability to change it. To use the word blanket with regards to twenty wrongly implies it can’t be changed when there’s a good reason to do so. That misrepresents the policy.
What an absolute travesty. The roll out of the 20mph fiasco has been disastrous. The Welsh Gov has provided NO scientifically valid, statistically robust data – because there isn’t any. Almost 500,000 people signed a petition against the roll out (out of a total population of some 3.5m!!!!!) – so whoever gave this so called award has their head firmly buried in the sand!
You really need to get a life mate😂
28% fewer road casualties in its first 9 months.
Now you have the statistical data.
You just need to read the full article.
What do you prefer, hit by three ton of pig iron at 20MPH or 30MPH?
500k signing a petition, yep, 500k people that didn’t game the system and boast about different emails and using post codes from around wales….. (on forums, really out in the open).
Then we have a count of what, 15k petition against the farming bits brought in by the Welsh government and a massive and well turned out demo, yet for the 20mph, a few people and a far right agitator pictured with the new Tory leader. So many signed the petition but no one shows?
It’s certainly not an award winning policy in my view either. Poorly introduced, misguided and now the subject of a review with, I hope, many through routes returning to 30. In producing statistics, did anyone really expect anything other than a report that demonstrates a reduction in casualties of whatever nature. There certainly wasn’t going to be a report published that demonstrated no change or worse, an increase. I support 20 once on side streets, housing estates , town centres – it was always the case that 20 was probably the normal speed in those areas anyway. I don’t support… Read more »
So how many extra people killed do you deem would be acceptable in order for you to zip around at all of 10mph faster?
How it’s implemented is not the same as the policy itself.
Wonderful news, well done.
Speed bumps cause more delays than the 20 mph default speed limit. As said many times on this subject. The only problem with the law was the way Welsh Labour implemented it which gave the English right-wing ammunition to fire. Also, the Welsh Conservatives input into this saga was truly shameful. To spread lies , misinformation & disinformation online to insight those poorly educated to damage signage costing the of thousands to repair & replace reckless. More Importantly it could have cost lives. Absolute idiots. I despise these little Englanders with a passion. And is it no wonder why their… Read more »
Recently I had the “pleasure” of driving round Bristol for a few days helping a friend with a house move. 20mph is default there in most places, as it is in many residential areas of London. Half the time you were lucky to do more than 10mph, and it doesn’t solve the stop-start pollution. 20 is Plenty was, and is, a brilliant campaign group. People who live in roadside cottages must be thoroughly grateful for the reduction in traffic noise at all hours. Hopefully this recognition will introduce some sanity into this debate. By all means, make local alterations where… Read more »