20mph default speed limit probe paused
Bruce Sinclair
A probe into Wales’ 20mph default speed limit is expected to be put on hold by senior councillors.
The new road regulation which came into force in September last year and saw most roads in Wales that were 30mph switch to 20 – although councils have discretion to impose exemptions.
The Welsh Government says the new speed limit will result in 40 per cent fewer road collisions, save six to 10 lives every year and avoid 1,200- 2,000 people being injured.
The introduction of the default 20mph speed limit on the majority of 30mph roads in Wales sparked protests and sign vandalism in many areas, including Martletwy, Crymych, Hermon and Mynachlogddu, with signs daubed with paint.
Exemptions
Earlier this year, members of the Pembrokeshire’s Council Cabinet backed a series of exemptions in the county, where the 30mph limit is retained.
A report for Cabinet members lists three options, a ‘do nothing’ approach, adopting the notice of motion, and the recommended option, that any decision on a working group is deferred.
A Notice of Motion before the Council’s February 12 Cabinet meeting, by Pembroke Dock Bufferland councillor Michele Wiggins says: “The Welsh government have agreed to work collaboratively with local highway authorities to reflect on the application of the guidance in different parts of Wales.
“As a councillor for Pembrokeshire I agree with the 20mph, but not a blanket roll-out.
“I would like to put a Notion of Motion together for a working party to discuss areas as a large proportion of Pembrokeshire residents and businesses do not agree with the blanket limit and this is a democracy.”
Stretched
The report concludes: “Extensive work has been undertaken to date to introduce the 20mph and there is recognition there has been concerns raised by some motorists in Pembrokeshire.
“It has also placed significant workload on officers to deliver the work, and that work still continues in terms of introducing buffer limits.
“Given the scale of this scheme, council resources have been very stretched, and there is no spare capacity within the team to either consider new requests, or to support extensive review work.
“Normally, when new speed limits are introduced, the council’s timescale is 12 months post implementation for any review, to allow time for any new scheme to “bed in”, or the full extent of issues to be evidenced.”
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This never was designed to remove all 30. mph limits and replace them with 20 mph limits.
The term blanket was a political spin and not one in the interests of road safety
Reality is that there needs to be an all Wales review of road signage and markings for non motorway roads
When 99%+ roads where changed and fewer than 1% reverted the term ‘blanket’ is rather apt. Saying this will save lives and reduce pollution is political spin, and a gross misinformation at best. In Fact most independent data free from Senedd messing suggests a higher collision rate and lower fuel economy, a stark contradiction. The truth is the roads where never safer than the night before 20mph was rolled out. This whole farce is little more than a step towards the final objective, making it practically and financially inviable for the general public to run their cars. Time and time… Read more »
I totally agree but I guess that the kremlin sorry syned will never publish the reports that this bogus information that they keep quoting is extracted from
Surely the development of a comprehensive, frequent and inexpensive bus service should be a precursor to massive spending on 20mph limit and cycle lanes. Its the only way to get people out of their cars while still being able to travel promptly to work or leisure.
I disagree with 20mph anywhere other than outside of schools and only at relevent times.
However I will agree with you on the point of transport spending, really should have been the higher priority to enable people to travel out of cars If they CHOOSE to or are unable to drive.
The only problem with that is the sheer cost. Each electric bus is around £340k for a standard single-decker, and a charger for two buses is around £30k, plus there is the cabling and installation of the system. The purchase of just ten such buses would add up to the amount spent on implementing the 20mph limit, which only upsets the selfish, and has absolutely no bearing on the installation of cycle lanes. £34 million may seem a lot, but it isn’t really in the context of a Welsh Government budget that’s in the billions. Plus that expenditure will deliver… Read more »
SUPPORT OUR FARMERS!
NO FARMERS NO FOOD!
Nearly all of Europe is now protesting against such Orwilian rules, multiple governments under the world economic forum have rolled out similar laws along with attacks on agriculture and the working class poorly disguised as net zero objectives.
If you want food, money, and the basic freedoms you take for granted, then now is the time to speak up.
No to net zero
No to WEF
No to the Senedd
No to 20mph
1200 Welsh Farmers have met up so far, protests, coming to Wales soon. 🏴
They (The Senedd) should listen to the people, I totally agree with the Welsh Farmers.
Please take your Reform UK rants elsewhere. Thank you.
The powers that be in Cardiff are still trying to baffle voters with this, if 20 had been legaly implemented on the pre September roll out there would be no argument but they are still changing speed limits from 60 to 40, 60 to 30, 40 to 30, Etc all over wales not 30 to 20. they are messing about with the speed limits in the name of safety. The excuses used have all been shown to be misleading, only adds a minute to your journey, reducing pollution in the atmosphere, saving money for the NHS by reducing accidents. If… Read more »
Why would it take so long? After all they must have gathered a deal of information by now. Perhaps it’s not going the way the authorities want?
It will restart once the outcome can be manipulated to look like the enforced 20mph is working , so more lies basically.
🏴 Prove the lies and the 20mph dies 🏴
The move to 20mph the most ridiculous policy in years. It is not needed on all roads and should have been implemented properly. Start again and let’s have a vote. The system we have now does not work.
Those who d’ont like 20 mph like 50 mph pass Schools , thro Estates, pass Playgrounds down the many narrow roads in Wales TIME To SLOW DOWN
Those who don’t like the 20mph limit include drivers who see others make risky manoeuvres to overtake slower traffic, those who see long processions of cars bumper to bumper behind the 20mph enthusiast and realise that this actually makes it more dangerous for pedestrians to try to cross the road. It includes drivers who witness others whose attention is wandering due to the slow crawl. It includes drivers who see frequent examples of drivers pulling out of side turnings in dangerous fashion because they don’t want to be held up by the dawdler on the main road. We are not… Read more »
Quite simply if you can’t focus on the road when you’re behind the wheel you shouldn’t be on the road in the first place. Anyone ‘tailgating’ is driving carelessly, which is an offence, as is pulling out of a side road in a dangerous manner.
There may well be good reasons to challenge the speed limit where it is clearly questionable, but in the first instance the right thing to do is to challenge it through legal channels, not take the law into your own hands.
It isn’t on all roads. It was voted for, as it was in Welsh Labour’s 2021 election manifesto. Perhaps you should have read it?
How old are you Padi? Likely over 60 like the rest of the pro 20moh brigade.
There’s nobody more against this idiocy. I’m 73. I have been caught speeding too many times. Have you
But l didn’t vote labour. Why would l read their junk mail
Many of the replies to this article show clearly that a large minority of those vociferously banging on about the 20 mph limit are climate change denying, far-right, conspiracy theorist British nationalists whose feverish minds can’t even accept the agreed definition of the English word ‘blanket’.
No to 20mph speed limit ( what,s the point
Cyclest do any speed they want anywhere
Scooter on pavement doing 40+ mph
Untouchable?