Cycling UK has urged the Welsh government to stand by their 20mph speed limit introduced last September, despite calls for it to be scrapped by almost 500,000 signatories of a petition. The call comes after news that the new transport secretary believes the 20mph zone should only be targeted for children’s schools, hospitals and nurseries. However, Cycling UK argues that vulnerable groups like children and older people are not confined to certain areas of the road, therefore it is important to roll out the speed limit widely.
Introduced to improve road safety and reduce casualties on Welsh roads, the 20mph speed limit has been a point of friction across the country. A survey conducted by Go Safe road safety partnership in February discovered that 97% of the 14,874 vehicles monitored were compliant. Furthermore, the same survey also noted that 80% of adults in Wales are supportive of a 20mph speed limit in their area.
Gwenda Owen, Cycling UK’s Wales advocacy and development lead, stated that the Welsh government has done the “right thing” and urged ministers to stick by the policy. Ms. Owen added that the majority of individuals recognise the beneficial effects of slower speeds, not only for communities but also the environment and wellbeing of children. She emphasised that Welsh ministers must resist the temptation to please those who oppose the policy at the expense of Wales’ communities’ interests.
Lowering the speed limit has recently gained momentum in the UK as it strives to curb the number of road fatalities. Despite initial resistance, surveys have shown that citizens are increasingly accepting of the change with political leaders and councils taking a cautious approach to implementing the new speed limits
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