Unprecedented failure of Labour and Plaid's nationwide 20mph speed limit in Wales labeled as disastrous
In September 2023, the Welsh Labour government introduced a policy that changed the default speed limit on most built-up roads in Wales to 20mph. This policy, now two years old, has been met with mixed reactions.
According to the Welsh Government documents, the direct implementation cost was approximately 32 to 33 million pounds. However, the official Regulatory Impact Assessment estimates journey time disbenefits over 30 years at a central figure of 6.4 billion pounds, with an upper bound close to 8.9 billion pounds. The Welsh Conservatives, on the other hand, argue that the actual cost may be closer to 38 million pounds.
The policy has seen early casualty data indicating an 11.8% reduction in total casualties in the first year. Yet, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Sam Rowlands MS, has criticised the policy, calling it a disaster for Wales.
A Senedd petition calling for the law to be scrapped gathered 469,571 signatures, a record in Senedd history. The Welsh Conservative Party has also brought forward a Senedd motion aiming to abolish the default 20mph speed limit in Wales.
The policy allows councils to apply exceptions where 30mph remains appropriate. Agriculture, which supports over 220,000 jobs in Wales and generates £9 for the wider economy for every £1 invested, is one such exception.
Despite the ongoing debate, the article does not provide any new information about the reasons for Labour and the Lib Dems' perceived hostility towards motorists, the impact of the speed limit change on the Welsh language or social fabric of rural Wales, or the editor's opinion on driving in Wales.
Notable events related to the speed limit change include a visit by the Prince of Wales to the Senedd in Cardiff, where he met representatives of the Welsh Parliament, and the Welsh Conservative Party introducing a motion in the Senedd supporting rural affairs. However, the article does not provide any new information about these events.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the default 20mph speed limit in Wales will remain a contentious issue in Welsh politics.
