Welsh 20mph outcome is actually quite impressive

There are many areas in Scotland who have this too. It appears to have cut road deaths but I can't find the evidence at the moment

We have an increasing number of 20mph areas and occasionally get reminders from our Neighbourhood Watch group, that fines are being issued for speeding on certain roads.
Can’t find any evidence of deaths before or after the implementation of the changed limits.

I think what is different in Wales is that the 20mph limit is for all urban areas with houses and shops, ie with pavements that have them opening onto the pavement, it’s been introduced near schools throughout the UK, I don’t know if any additional areas elsewhere are down to councils to decide?

We have 20mph limits in some areas where I live, towns and some villages. I don’t mind it, especially in town because it gives you as a driver more chance to keep an eye on pedestrians/cyclists/small children and traffic signals. Some of the country areas I find it harder to keep my speed down, driving along an empty road between empty fields, say. My car has a speed limiter on it so I use that a lot.

The downside is other vehicles tailgating you or overtaking aggressively. Though I guess those types of drivers will do that whatever the speed limit is, to judge by the racers who go past my GC’s school at ridiculous speeds.

I don’t know what the figures are for Scotland but I hope lives have been saved.

It sounds like a good idea to me. We live in a semi rural area and some cars speed along the lanes in a very dangerous manner. You have to have your wits about you.

Do those living in these areas notice much difference? Has it increased safety? Do your journeys take a lot longer? I’m interested to know more.

The downside is other vehicles tailgating you or overtaking aggressively
Yes, I have found an increase in tailgating to be the downside of the 20mph limits. It seems worse than before.
Drivers then overtake dangerously, sometimes in the 20mph limit zone too, which can be quite scary.

According to that report, too, an advanced driving instructor in Wrexham said that in his opinion, driving behaviour has been badly affected as No one was doing under 30mph in the 20mph zones which made teaching learners more dangerous.

Overall, however, if casualties due to road accidents are dropping that has to be an optimistic trend.
However, it doesn't state how many casualties are pedestrians or those in cars.

There needs to be a campaign to make people, particularly children, to be more aware as pedestrians.
Remember the Tufty Club?

I am originally from South Wales and often visit friends in the area I used to live in. They hate it, it goes on for a long stretch between two small towns and drives everyone mad. It causes chaos when going to work on the morning because everyone is going in the same direction to get on the nearby motorway . It drives me bonkers when I go back .

The tailgating was an issue I agree, but it hasn’t had the effect of increasing accidents. I think it’s taken time to bed down, but most people are compliant now.

Here’s the Transport for Wales findings, which covers a lot of issues, on casualty figures, they say there is insufficient evidence so far to reach conclusions about the split between pedestrian and vehicle casualties, which I guess with only 18 months data is fair.

tfw.wales/national-monitoring-report-july-2025

It's quite difficult, though, especially going downhill.
There are a lot of hills in Wales.

I know - but the evidence that it prevents accidents seems pretty compelling, so it’s a price worth paying by the look of it.

It's so easy to suddenly find you're doing about 26 mph going downhill as it still seems very slow.

It is- I got caught by community speed watch doing 25 downhill when it first came in. I change down into second gear going downhill now, you do get used to it.

If you look at what speed kills a child you would be very supportive of the reduced speed, in fact in I think that there is an argument for 10 mph, where there is a high density of children.

We have 20mph for a number of years - it was never an issue as far as i am aware.

I haven't got gears now.

Casdon

It is- I got caught by community speed watch doing 25 downhill when it first came in. I change down into second gear going downhill now, you do get used to it.

In your view, living there, is it an improvement would you say? Despite the inconvenience of longer times getting to places. Is it a price worth paying and do people comply?

Yes, I think it is an improvement, particularly now I’ve seen that lives and injuries have reduced so significantly. I think road users are too impatient, and this has redressed the imbalance somewhat. It can be inconvenient if you want to get somewhere in a hurry, but we should leave enough time not to be in a rush anyway, because that’s often when accidents happen. That’s not to say though that it’s not irritating, when you can see no logical reason for some areas to be 20mph.

woodenspoon

Casdon

It is- I got caught by community speed watch doing 25 downhill when it first came in. I change down into second gear going downhill now, you do get used to it.

In your view, living there, is it an improvement would you say? Despite the inconvenience of longer times getting to places. Is it a price worth paying and do people comply?

Those who don't would probably not comply with the 30mph either although I have noticed an increase in tailgating and impatience, plus dangerous overtaking.

Hmm well I wish it was more widespread. I wish we had it in our area on the south coast.

They're very unpopular round here. There are a number of petitions on the go to get them removed.

Some cities and even rural areas already have these in England and have done for years.

I don't really know what the fuss is about really, especially if it makes things safer and healthier for others and themselves.

My street has speed bumps to keep kids safe, but even then some drives go over them at speed, which only harms the suspension on their cars. Why can't we all just slow down a little?

It might be easier if it was consistent.
It’s 30mph going up the hill near where I live, but 20mph going down. The limit recently changed from 30 to 20 mph along one road by open field , except for a short stretch including 3 road junctions, where the limit is signed 30mph.
It’s our job to observe limits, but you do wonder why some have changed.

I live in Canada, and in my area some cities have now decreased their speed limits from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. I have not seen the statistics myself, but I believe there is evidence that this decreases the risks. (I also believe that this was an initiative by Vision Zero. It's an organization whose vision is for zero accidents involving death or serious injury on the roads.)

We live in Wales and are now used to the 20mins . We have long slow tails of traffic through the village. Bit like a funeral procession. But as soon as some drivers clear the 20 mph area and spy a 30 or 40, they are off as if shot from a cannon

Grandmabatty

There are many areas in Scotland who have this too. It appears to have cut road deaths but I can't find the evidence at the moment

More people are dying in the back of ambulances on the way to hospital though.