Welsh Conservatives push for final vote on 20mph speed limit
The Welsh Conservative Party are to force a final vote on the the introduction of the 20mph speed limit across Wales.
Wales is on the brink of introducing a default 20mph speed limit on most residential roads, transitioning from the current 30mph.
This change, set to take effect on Sunday, September 17, will make Wales the first UK region to adopt such a measure.
This week in the Senedd, the Welsh Conservative Party will call once again on the Labour Government to abandon the speed reduction, with a debate that pushes for a repeal of the 20mph regulations.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar MS said: ““Opposition to Labour’s ridiculous 20mph speed limit rollout is getting more and more pronounced as we approach September 17.
“That is why the Welsh Conservatives will be using our opposition Senedd time to force a vote on repealing The Restricted Roads (20mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022.
“With Labour’s plans costing an initial £33 million and a further £4.5 billion hit to the Welsh economy, emergency services slowed down, and livelihoods at risk, we’re calling on the Labour Government to scrap this ludicrous policy.”
First minister Mark Drakeford said last week “reducing speeds not only saves lives, it helps build safer communities for everyone, including motorists.”
He said the potential benefits, “will help make our streets quieter, reducing noise pollution, and slower speeds will give more people the confidence to cycle and walk around their local areas and encourage children to play outdoors.”
Drawing from global data, Drakeford said, “reducing speed limits reduces collisions and saves lives.”
Wales’ approach mirrors Spain’s decision in 2019 to reduce the speed limit on most roads to 30km/h (18.6 miles per hour).
The results? A 20% drop in urban road deaths, with cyclist fatalities down by 34% and pedestrian deaths by 24%.
Research indicates that the 20mph limit could save the NHS approximately £92m annually by decreasing the number of road traffic injuries.
Over a decade, this could translate to 100 lives saved and 20,000 fewer casualties.
On the 13th of September, the Welsh Parliament is set to debate the motion:
To propose that the Senedd:
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