Petition against 20mph speed limit passes 130k signatures

There is a call for the Welsh Government to look again at the changes.

Wales now has a speed limit of 20 miles per hour on the majority of residential streets.
Author: Lauren JonesPublished 19th Sep 2023
Last updated 19th Sep 2023

Just days after the change was introduced - a petition calling for an end to the 20 mile per hour speed limit across Wales has passed 130 thousand signatures.

The online petition claims people aren't being listened to on the issue and questions whether the move will work to cut road deaths.

There will be a debate in the Senedd on the change in the coming months as the petition has passed the 10 thousand signatures needed.

In a UK first, the reduction in the speed limit in residential areas came into force on Sunday and aims to make communities safer and cut road deaths.

Spain brought in similar speed reduction changes in 2019 - seeing a 25 per cent drop in pedestrian casualties since the move.

The RAC warned drivers not to rely on satnavs for the correct speed limit and instead follow the road signs.

But any motorist caught driving over 20mph but under 30mph will initially receive advice from the police rather than face a ticket, a minister said.

Lee Waters, deputy minister for climate change, said: "Very much the intention initially is to educate and to speak to people and not to fine but over 30mph we will be fining and issuing points."

The minister said he expected it would take around a month for motorists to get used to the changes but said trials of the 20mph limits had shown a typical delay of between one to two minutes for an average journey.

"Most delay doesn't occur because of speed, it could be because of delays at junctions and traffic lights," he said.

"We've all been overtaken by an idiot only to find them one space in front of us at the lights.

"A business model that assumes on somebody driving a way that is dangerous is not a very good business model."

Lee Waters has also suggested the change on residential streets will encourage more people to walk and cycle to work or school - helping to make people across Wales healthier.

Local authorities have the power to keep some roads at 30mph or 40mph if they feel its warranted.

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