20mph limit law review sets out criteria for which roads may go back to 30mph

A review into the 20mph limit has concluded most roads in Wales will not need to be reassessed. The 20mph limit was introduced to Wales in September 2023.

It meant that all 30mph roads automatically changed to 20mph unless they were exempted by the local council. Despite lots of misinformation calling it a "blanket" 20mph rule this was not the case though most 30mph roads were changed.

Despite being underpinned by strong evidence and predictions suggesting that up to 20,000 casualties would be prevented over the next decade it proved very unpopular among some members of the Welsh public and was seen as a large contributing factor towards Mark Drakeford's plummeting poll numbers. To appease the critics the Welsh Government ordered a review of the policy.

READ MORE: What went wrong with the 20mph limit

READ MORE: Man responsible for Wales' 20mph rollout accepts things should have been 'different'

The team who put together the report have now posted their conclusions. In it they say the Welsh Government has "now decided to co-create and publish updated exceptions guidance with input from highway authorities and the County Surveyors Society Wales, by the end of July 2024" so they are going "report on our findings to date and draw conclusions on the principles upon which the new guidance should be based".

Those who were hoping that all of the 20mph limits would be changed to 30mph will be disappointed because the report has suggested that most roads won't even need to be reassessed. The report said: "There seems to be broad consensus [among those who completed a questionnaire for the report] that on residential roads that are not of strategic importance to the network 20mph is the right speed limit. Therefore it seems that all (or at least the vast majority of C-classified or unclassified roads) should not be reassessed as most people seem to agree that the 20mph default speed limit is right there – except possibly in an industrial estate or when surrounded by open land." It added that analysis indicated "that the scale of any changes in Wales needed to bring speed limits in line with other places that have adopted wide-area 20mph limits does not need to be extensive and where justified are likely to be limited to the main routes serving larger settlements and outside their centres".

The report did however also outline the types of roads where they believed changes should be made:

• "We would expect most 30mph exceptions to be or to be made on main/strategic roads outside city/town/village centres or high streets, outside other high-density areas and away from other places that attract frequent pedestrian and/or cyclist trips (unless they are segregated and protected from motor traffic).

• "Similarly, 30mph limits could be used on rural residential roads with no nearby facilities, roads with very low density of housing and/or very few houses altogether and on roads with houses only on one side and no need to cross the road (or if safe crossing points are available or made available).

• "30mph limits could also be applied on strategic roads that are important bus corridors/strategic for road transport where evidence exists that journey times have increased significantly. Again, if pedestrians and/or cyclists are present on those roads, they should be segregated from motorised traffic.

• "30mph limits could also be used on minor roads in industrial areas with little pedestrian and or cyclist traffic, or areas surrounded by open land."

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In a written statement the minister for north Wales and transport Ken States said: "I am pleased to publish the final report from the Welsh Government-appointed review team which has evaluated the exceptions guidance for the default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads in Wales. The review team has looked at how highway authorities have applied the 20mph policy change across Wales.

"The report recognises the need for balance between safety concerns and potential benefits of higher speeds on key strategic or main roads. It suggests that revised guidance is required to provide a systematic procedure for assessing roads for speed limit adjustments. This should clarify core principles while balancing consistency with flexibility, acknowledging the complexity of decisions regarding speed limits.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the review team for this important work. The findings will be used to lay the groundwork for changes and revisions to the guidance on which local roads can be exempted from the 20mph limit. This will be published before summer recess. We want to co-create a framework that supports highway authorities to make the right decisions for local roads, particularly when those calls are finely balanced."

He added: "From September we will continue to support highway authorities in assessing roads, making traffic regulation orders, and implementing changes on the ground. It is likely to take several months before we begin to see the results of this work.

"Councils are already assessing local roads that may require adjustments. Through our listening programme I have encouraged the public to share their thoughts on where 20mph limits should be targeted, both on local authority roads and on the Welsh Government-managed trunk road network. Once local authorities have collaborated with communities and the new framework is finalised highway authorities will consider if the speed limits on any of the roads (or section of roads) that they are responsible for should change.

"The primary goal of the 20mph default policy is to save lives and reduce casualties on our roads. By listening to what people want for their communities we are committed to refining this policy and ensuring appropriate speed limits on the right roads. Ultimately the extent of change will be determined by the relevant highway authorities."