20 mph is the default speed limit on most urban roads and streets in Wales following a vote by the Senedd.
The historic change is aimed at preventing accidents and improving air quality and comes after 20mph pilot schemes ran in eight areas of Wales.
Moves to introduce the speed limit gained traction in 2019, when PJA’s Chairman Phil Jones was appointed by Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, to head up the Welsh 20mph Task Force Group.
Phil said: “This is of huge significance – Wales will join Spain as only the second nation in the world to set 20mph/30kph as the default speed limit for built-up areas. Overnight it will mean that most roads in Wales will be set at 20mph without local authorities having to make thousands of costly traffic orders. This will lead to significant reductions in casualties and more liveable communities right across Wales.”
The new speed limit will take effect on September 17 2023 and will apply to restricted roads – those with street lights at least every 200 yards.
Rod King, founder of the campaign group 20’s Plenty For Us, added: “This is a Welsh nation daring to do something smarter than the UK government. The Wales Act 2017 empowered it to set national limits so that instead of setting 20mph street by street, it could make it a national default and allow local authorities the flexibility to justify exceptions for those roads where 30mph was appropriate. It meets Welsh values for future generations and liveability, whilst aligning with global best practice of a 20mph or 30km/h limit where motors mix with people walking and cycling. Well done Wales.”
The campaign for 20mph default limit was supported by several Welsh organisations and NGOs including the Institute for Welsh Affairs, Public Health Wales, Sustrans Cymru, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Living Streets Cymru and BRAKE.
Read the report from the Welsh 20mph Task Force Group here.
For more information, contact [email protected]
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