20mph in Wales

Luckygirl3

There are cameras all through 20 mph zones in my local Welsh town.

Oh! I'd better watch out.

However, it's just as well that 20mph is not a compulsory speed as sometimes it would be impossible to go that fast.

Luckygirl3

There are cameras all through 20 mph zones in my local Welsh town.

There are cameras on all the main thoroughfare roads in my part of London, but not one on any side turnings (purely residential), not even near schools.
Does every road in your town have a camera, goodness that must be a huge number?

Whitewavemark2

My daughters friend was killed by a car travelling at 25 mph.

The less speed the more chance of survival.

So it is not about how comfortable you feel it is about looking after our children.

If you can’t comfortably drive at 20mph - I think that you have to ask yourself if you should be driving.

Absolutely! I’m so sorry for the loss of your daughter’s friend.
I live in Wales and when the 20mph law came in, there was a very vocal minority rallying support to try to overturn it. Reading their posts on social media and in press articles etc, it seemed to be ‘career-complainers’ with no rational explanation for their outrage.
As you say, any good driver should find slowing down when required simple. Indeed, many of those objecting claimed to have been driving for many years, but suggested that reducing their speed when necessary would be beyond their ability!

There are cameras all through 20 mph zones in my local Welsh town.

In my experience speed cameras are only on main roads. If councils were serious about why they are enforcing 20mph limits, ie safety for children and pedestrians, these cameras would be sited on minor roads. Certainly in London, I've never ever seen a speed camera on a minor or strictly residential road. At the top of my residential road is a sign that says "unsuitable for heavy vehicles". Doesn't stop the council dust carts from taking the short cut through. Maybe that's why the potholes are getting worse?

When the 20mph limit came about here in Wales (and it's not a blanket limit), most drivers did just that but now I find most do 30mph, as long as they know where the speed cameras are as some of the roads shouldn't really be 20. Also, different councils have different rules. For instance, the neighbouring council has a 30 limit through housing developments whereas my local council is 20 on roads where there are no or very few houses. Even the police vehicles do 30mph.

20 mph remains the default in Wales, so if built up area with no other signs then it is 20, but many of the main roads and access roads are back to 30.

Councils across England were given funding if they designated 20mph zones. I live in one - the net effect is tha many ignore it on the more used road, and in the back road and side roads pedestrians and cyclists seem to thing they can wander.
Another zone was recently introduced on a main road causing much protest, and a rural town nearby is fully 20mph with mixed response.

What caused much laughter and jokes was the introduction across many Cambridge street, where the reponse was how nice it would be to have roads where you could travel that fast.

My grandson was born and bred in North Wales and passed his driving test last year . Last summer he drove for 2 hours to visit me just so that he could drive on proper roads including a motorway 😂

The 20mph speed limit is a blow to freedom and a hindrance to commerce and the prosperity of the country. Yes, there should be some low speed limits to prevent accidents and save children and others, but in clear, non residential areas a lower speed limit than that which is currently in force is not necessary.

How does it help the NHS when commerce falters and revenue falls?

Roads should be open and free and the war on the motorists ended.

No, Welsh Government is reversing some of the changes, with 50 specific roads returning to 30mph in 2025 and 2026 based on revised guidance and public feedback. However the core 20mph policy is still in place and it is not planned to scrap it. It could all change after the Senedd election though.

I agree it’s very hard to drive at 20 mph, I’m Welsh and moved to England as soon as I retired to be closer to my daughter but I go back regularly for visits, when I’m driving at 20 I feel like a doddering old lady hardly out of 3rd gear I have heard they admit the mistake and are putting it back to 30 except outside schools etc I think people should use their common sense and drive carefully in more dangerous areas

I’d hate to think that the Welsh electorate is so shallow and self serving that we would vote out a government because they introduced a policy that mildly inconvenienced us, but reduced accidents significantly and saved lives Spectalk.

Might do with the supposedly fuel crisis!

Could that be anything to do with the forthcoming Senedd election?

Bazza

I too have been overtaken by a cyclist in a 20 mph zone. Does this not also apply to cyclists?

If you look back to my posts at 10:21 and 10:45 you will see my links to how the 20 mph does not apply to cyclists. Even when a collision at 25-29 mph with a pedestrian crossing a road leads to her death days later. The cyclist walks free to continue what in my opinion is reckless cycling.

Sorry, just caught up with the rest of the thread and seen that cyclist don't have to obey the speed limits - insanity...

Bazza

I too have been overtaken by a cyclist in a 20 mph zone. Does this not also apply to cyclists?

I'm sure that it does, but there are no reg plates on cycles so no way of identifying them.

We're in greater London and there are some very irritating roads in the suburbs which are dual carriageways that have very wide, safe pavements set well back from the road and don't have schools in evidence. Last time we went on one we were tailgated by a bus that was honking at us for observing the (unnecessary) speed limit.

I agree...we are supposed to be doing it in Scotland too...people are so against it and who isgoing to police it? Think of the traffic jams at peak times? As well just going back to a man walking in front of vehicles with a red flag!

Lots of London Boroughs are all 20 MPH the suspicion is it's to generate revenue...

I too have been overtaken by a cyclist in a 20 mph zone. Does this not also apply to cyclists?

I live ib Wales and 20moh is awful. OK outside schools etc but in gereral a long queue follows a 20 mile an hour which leads to frustration on perfectly open areas of roads. No way is it needed in most cases.

eddiecat78

We're about to get it in Gloucestershire too

Thanks Eddiecat, I didn't know that.

What do you think of that, Eddie? I'm in Suffolk and our Council takes years to catch up with the rest of the country!! Thankfully, on this occasion 😉.

We're about to get it in Gloucestershire too