The Welsh Parliament has today passed new regulations to reduce the speed limit to 20mph on restricted roads
The new regulations, which come into force in September 2023, reduce the speed limit on restricted roads from 30mph to 20mph. Restricted roads are a road which has a lamp post at each 200 yard interval.
Over the past year, Welsh Government has piloted a scheme in eight areas across Wales, where 20mph speed limits have been introduced on some residential roads.
Research shows pedestrians are 40 per cent less likely to die when hit by a car travelling at 20mph compared with one travelling at 30mph. If someone is struck by a vehicle at 20mph their chance of survival is up to 97 per cent.
Researchers at Public Health Wales estimate that if all current 30mph limit roads in Wales became 20mph roads, between 1200–2000 casualties would avoided each year.
In November 2020, a Welsh Government national survey found that 80 per cent of participants supported the plans, in particular parents or those with children in the household.
The new 20mph limit will cost an estimated £33m to bring into force. The majority of this funding will be spent on new road signs and costs for local authorities. Powys County Council, as the highways authority can exclude roads from the new default speed limit by retaining the 30mph on certain roads.
Last week we reported that campaigners urged the Senedd to support the new law.
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