Welsh Transport Minister Ken Skates has announced that the Welsh Government could reconsider its decision to reduce the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph. It is expected that the change will be implemented by the end of 2024.
The Welsh Government's revised guidelines will be published in July 2024, and consultation with local councils on the change is expected to begin in September.
30 to 20 mph Speed Limit Backstory
In September 2023, Wales made headlines by becoming one of the first countries in the world, and the first in the UK, to bring down the speed limit on residential roads from 30mph to 20mph.
Welsh authorities claimed that the change in the speed limit was introduced to reduce collisions, save lives and reduce injuries. However, this decision met with strong opposition from local residents, with a petition against the new speed limit attracting more than 460,000 signatures.
This outcry led to the recent review of the 20mph speed limit. Mr Skates emphasised in his statement how the final decision will not be dictated by the Welsh Government, but will be based primarily on public opinion and the discretion of local councils who act as highway authorities in most residential areas.
He encouraged the citizens of Wales to share their views on the issue with their local councils over the coming months.
Today is the start of our listening programme on 20mph. It's about getting right speeds on the right roads.
Here’s Transport Secretary @KenSkatesMS to explain 👇More here 👉 https://t.co/YnGvSOL7fJ#ListeningOn20mph pic.twitter.com/K9Vd9f87NM
— Welsh Government Transport (@WGTransport) April 23, 2024
Ultimately, the degree of change in each of our 22 local authority areas will not be determined by myself or the Welsh Government, but rather by the public and councils as the highway authority for most residential streets.
How Much Will the Change Cost?
According to the Welsh Government, reintroducing the 30mph speed limit on residential roads is estimated to cost up to £5 million.
But, before the potential change in speed limits, it's worth looking at the roads in North Wales where the 20mph limit is currently in force. These include roads in:
- Wrexham
- Flintshire
- Denbighshire
- Conwy
- Gwynedd
- Anglesey
A map has been developed by DataMapWales which shows all the roads in North Wales (and the rest of Wales) that have seen the speed limit reduced from 30mph to 20mph. It also shows roads exempt from the change that have retained the 30mph limit. You can view the map on the DataMapWales website here.