Senedd backs 20mph limit in residential areas

MEMBERS of the Senedd have endorsed plans that will see 20mph as the default speed limit in residential areas across Wales.

Introducing the proposal, Deputy Economy Minister Lee Waters told MSs: “Eighty children were killed or seriously injured in Wales in the last year we have figures for – 80 families whose lives will never be the same.

“While we have made progress in reducing deaths on the roads over the 21 years of devolution, despite our considerable efforts there are still 4,000 accidents which result in injuries every year in Wales.

“And the evidence is clear – reducing speed reduces accidents, reducing speed saves lives. Slower speeds increase quality of life too. According to the British Crime Survey, speeding traffic was rated as the most serious anti-social problem. Of the 16 examples of anti-social behaviour people were asked to rate, every demographic rated speeding traffic as the greatest problem.

“Speeding traffic also tops the list of parent worries, with children being kept closer to home than we were.”

Mr Waters said it made sense to make 20mph the default speed limit in residential areas, as opposed to 30mph at present.

In the spirit of cross-party working, the Welsh Government was prepared to accept Plaid Cymru’s amendment which said there was a need for proper enforcement of the 20mph limit. Mr Waters said future Welsh Government budgets should reflect the need to provide resources to that end.

Plaid Cymru MS Sian Gwenllian welcomed the Welsh Government’s support for her party’s amendment, stressing the need for proper enforcement, and said: “The question of enforcement is an important one and is one that needs to be addressed. At the moment the 20mph speed limits aren’t being implemented in a proactive manner.

“The GoSafe cameras are targeted at locations where a high number of people are injured or killed, and that is understandable, but the Welsh Government, to make these speed limits effective, should work with the police and crime commissioners, with the GoSafe programme, which is funded by the Welsh Government, to agree how to change the enforcement regime so that the 20mph speed limits are of real value.”

For the Welsh Conservatives, Montgomeryshire MS Russell George said: “Collisions within 30mph areas in Powys are relatively low. Therefore, while the research suggests that 20mph limits will reduce collisions, there will be a smaller reduction.”

The combined votes of Labour and Plaid MSs saw the policy passed.