Newslink July 01-40

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Welsh criticism of 20mph plans increases amid
fears it could damage lessons and L-testing
A debate in the Welsh Senedd has revealed
strong opposition to introducing a default
20mph speed limit across Wales’s urban
areas – but supporters said the move would
save lives and money.
The decision to make 20mph the ‘default
national position in residential areas’ in Wales
was made in July 2022 by the Senedd, and
the law will come into force in September
2023.
The new legislation will not apply a blanket
speed limit on all roads, but it will make the
default limit 20mph on residential roads and
busy pedestrian streets. Local authorities will
be able to ask for a limit greater than 20mph
where circumstances dictate it is necessary,
though what these are has not been clarified.
But the move – while welcomed by many
in the road safety community – could have
major implications for driver training and
testing, denying learners the chance to either
practise at speeds greater than 20mph, or be
tested at them. The legislation does not allow
the DVSA a role in setting speed limits, either.
Currently, just 2.5% of Welsh roads have a
speed limit of 20mph, but this is expected to
increase to approximately 35%.
The Welsh Government hopes the move
will help to save lives, develop safer
communities, improve the quality of life and
encourage more people to make more
sustainable and active travel choices.
However, a petition was raised criticising
the move, stating: “This decision [to introduce
the 20mph limit] is not representative of the
broader public opinion and as such, it is not
democratic to implement the changes.
“An alteration to road laws on this scale
should be subject to much more extensive
polling or possibly as part of a Welsh
referendum on the matter.”
22,000 people signed the petition, leading
to a debate in the Senedd, which was held on
Wednesday, June 28.
Addressing the Senedd, Conservative MS
Joel James said the fact that over 21,000
people signed the petition against the
proposal shows the “enormity in opposition
to a blanket reduction” to 20mph.
Mr James said that while he understands
the need for 20mph roads where better air
quality is needed, a blanket reduction is
“completely unenforceable”
He added that studies showed the
introduction of 20mph roads increased travel
Coming soon everywhere
to Wales’s urban areas?
times by up to as much 5mph. “Drivers will
likely drive faster on roads to make up for lost
time, causing more collisions and road rage,”
he said.
But Llyr Griffiths of Plaid Cymru says he
supported the legislation on the basis that
most urban roads “do not need to be
20mph.” But he did highlight that “as we see
the maps emerging we will see roads on the
edge of towns that show 20mph isn’t really
necessary, and isn’t maybe the most sensible
speed limit option.”
He suggesed that asking whether some
roads were kept at 30mph would be more
appropriate.
Tory MS Natasha Asghar described the
blanket change from 30mph to 20mph as
“highly damaging”.
She called for a “targeted approach” over a
blanket rule, pointing out that over half of
those who took part in the Government
consultation were against the plans.
Conservative MS Sam Rowlands said a
survey in his constituency of Buckley, which
was used as a pilot area, found that over 90%
of residents thought the trial was a “failure”
Speaking for the proposal , Hefin David
(Labour) said there have been “tragic
accidents” in residential areas, and that “on
the whole, this is the right policy” for areas in
his constituency, while Jane Dodds said
20mph roads “save lives” and “helps our
health services”.
John Griffiths, Labour MS, said the 20mph
rule will let people “reclaim their streets” and
make “living communities”. He says it is
“perfectly possible” for local authorities to
“tweak” the exemptions after the rule is
14 NEWSLINK n JULY 2023