A law to change most 30mph speed limits to 20mph in Wales is to come into force in April 2023.
The Welsh Government wants it to be law that the national default speed limit on residential roads and busy pedestrian streets is cut to 20mph.
The plans will apply to all roads where street lights are not more than 200 yards apart - usually seen in residential and built-up areas - where the default speed limit is 30mph. There will be some exceptions, based on criteria linked to the number of houses, schools, community centres and shops alongside the road. Councils can look at that criteria and decide whether to keep the 30mph speed limit on specific roads.
Read more: The Cardiff suburb where residents 'struggle to get out of their drives' due to school parking
Mark Drakeford told the Senedd in 2019 that he wanted the default speed in Wales to become 20mph and a recommendation was drawn up by a specially-designed taskforce. Pilot schemes have been rolled out in a number of areas across Wales. The latest, a scheme in Cardiff North, will go live on Friday, March 11. Another, in Cilfrew, Neath Port Talbot, will be from March 16.
Schemes are already live in St Dogmaels in Pembrokeshire, Llanelli North, St Brides Major and Buckley in Flintshire.
The Cardiff scheme will cover the Llandaff North, Whitchurch and Tongwynlais, Rhiwbina and Heath wards.
The areas covered:
Enforcement of the speed limit is a matter for the police. However, Cardiff council is working with GoSafe and Welsh Government during the first phase to develop an enforcement strategy.
The Welsh Government ran a consultation between July and September 2021, and 5,607 responses have formed a report published today (Friday, March 11).
It is accepted that consultation was of people who had chosen to answer it and is people who are likely to have strong opinions which can lead to bias.
A public opinion survey, where the sample was structured to be representative of the general population of Wales, was conducted in November 2020 and also at focus groups.
When asked in the consultation about reducing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on restricted roads 53% of respondents said they were against 20mph (47% ‘strongly against’ and 6% ‘slightly against’), while 47% were in favour (41% ‘strongly in favour’ and 6% ‘slightly in favour’).
The public opinion survey found 81% supported a reduction and 17% were against.
When people in the pilot areas were asked, they were, according to the report, "very much in favour" of it being introduced, but in areas where it had recently been brought in "reaction was more mixed".
People asked said that the positives were making it safer for pedestrians, fewer serious collisions on the roads, safer for cyclists and children can play on the road. Negatives were seen as making journey times longer, increasing congestion and annoying drivers.
Focus groups, in three pilot areas, said positives were slower traffic, better pedestrian safety, environmental benefits, improved wellbeing, a reduction in traffic noise and, in one community, a potential economic benefit for local businesses. Concerns were raised about a lack of enforcement of the 20mph limit and drivers ignoring the limit. Most of those taking part in the consultation said their behaviour would not change if the speed limit on restricted roads was reduced to 20mph.
Deputy Minister for climate change, with responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said: "The evidence is clear, decreasing speeds not only reduces accidents and saves lives, but helps improve people’s quality of life - making our streets and communities a safer and more welcoming place for cyclists and pedestrians, whilst helping reduce our environmental impact.
"As with any cultural change we know it takes time to win hearts and minds and inevitably we will face some challenge, but I am confident that if we all work together we can make the necessary changes that will benefit us now and in the future."
Cardiff council's cabinet member Caro Wilde said: "As a council, we have been installing 20mph areas across the city, south of the A48, for a number of years now.
"Slowing vehicle speeds in residential areas is a positive step forward for our local communities and is supported by the majority of residents. Research clearly shows that reducing vehicle speeds in residential areas does reduce the number and severity of road collisions, provides better opportunities for residents to walk and cycle, makes our streets healthier and improves the environment for everyone."
To get the latest news from WalesOnline sent straight to your inbox click here.
