Fine-tuning for Welsh 20mph speed limits

The Welsh Government has published guidance to support local councils when making decisions on local speed limits, as part of efforts to make its default 20mph speed limit “a real success story for Wales”.

The guidance has been co-developed with highways authorities, the Welsh Local Government Association, and the County Surveyor’s Society for Wales. It comes less than a year after Wales introduced a default 20mph limit – and follows a review carried out by Ken Skates, cabinet secretary for transport.

The guidance provides a framework to support highways authorities to make the right decisions for local roads – particularly when those calls are finely balanced. It prioritises 20mph limits where pedestrians and cyclists frequently mix with vehicles unless strong evidence supports that higher speeds are safe. Highways authorities will have to submit bids for funding to change limits from a pot of £5m.

Andrew Morgan, leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, said: “These are not easy decisions for councils and safety remains our priority. There will need to be a high level of confidence that, if and where the limit is raised back to 30mph, it will not result in the very risks the policy was designed to mitigate.”