4. Catalysts & Triggers

Factors that lead up to the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, stating that 20mph should be the default speed limit in residential areas on May 7, 2019 included10:

●      Reduction in casualty numbers and savings to the health service – potentially influenced by the Public Health Wales 2017 research paper

●      Convergence of a number of Welsh Government policies:

o   2013 Road Safety Policy targeting reductions in fatalities and serious injuries

o   Alignment to the 2020 Stockholm Declaration to implement 20mph where vulnerable road users and vehicles frequently mix

o   Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act and Active Travel (Wales) Act

●      Visible grassroots and NGO support:

o   20’s Plenty was supporting 400 community groups around the country who wanted 20mph in residential streets

o   50 councils in England had already reduced residential street limits to 20mph.

In 2021, the 20mph default speed limit was included in both Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru’s election manifestos.

5. Communications & Community Engagement

Communications Strategy

●       Core messaging frames used were16:

○       Safety – 6-10 lives saved and 1,200 to 2,000 casualties avoided each year

○       Public Health Savings – £92 million each year

○       Liveable communities – lower speeds will create ‘safer, better communities to live, work and lead our lives”, the policy provides a safer environment for active transport, and it reduces air pollution and noise.

●       Narratives used:

○       The policy is evidence based and supported by people living in 20mph areas

○       It is not a blanket approach, there are exceptions where appropriate – “Getting the right speed on the right road”17

○       Early data shows that it is working18.

Community Engagement Methods

●       Public consultation period: 12-week consultation period from July 2021-August 2021, managed via an online/downloadable form which was open to individuals and organisations. Consultation Received 6,018 responses (47% in favour). 25 organisations made submissions (22 in favour)12.

●       Community survey: Public opinion survey was carried out in Nov 2020 as part of omnibus survey of 1,000 adults19.

●       Pilot program: The 20mph default was trialled in eight areas across Wales in 2021-2022, which were used to, as well as implementation issues. Pilot settlement project in 8 areas which implemented area-wide 20mph limits between 2021-2022. These were used to test community engagement messaging, refine the implementation process and test helped to refine the process, including use of the GIS tool for identifying exception roads.11

Level of Community Support
Prior to implementation there was a high level of community support. In November 2020, 81% of adults supported the policy and 18% opposed. At implementation in September 2023 opposition had increased to 61% and 3-months post-implementation opposition was 70%20.

In June 2024 a petition to reverse the 20mph limit received nearly 500,000 signatures – the largest petition ever brought against the Welsh Parliament21.

A 2026 survey showed that 54% of people oppose the limit and 30% support it, while in the 16–34-year-old age group, opposition is 49%.21

6. Implementation Approach

The long period between the Order and its implementation, (from July 13, 2022 to Sept 17, 2023) was to allow for amendments to traffic signs, as well as review, submission and implementation of exception roads.

Sign and Road Marking Changes22

This was implemented through amendments to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) to create a Wales-only TSRGD 2023.

The TSRGD 2016 amendments reflected the default nature of 20mph; removal of repeater signs in 20mph areas and their introduction in 30mph areas, 20mph zones (and their signage) were abolished, traffic-calmed-area entry and exit signs to replace 20mph zone signed at school zones, traffic calmed areas and road humps nested in default 20mph area (to replace 20mph repeater signs). These changes were phased:

Changes required by Implementation:

●       All terminal 30mph signs to be changed to 20mph signs

●       Removal or change of any conflicting signs e.g., 30mph Speed Camera Ahead signs

●       All 30mph road markings

12-month grace period:

●       Removal of repeater signs in 20mph areas

●       Removal of 20mph zones and their signs

●       Installation of traffic calmed area signs for 20mph nested school zones/road humps/traffic calmed areas.

●       Temporary ‘New 20mph Limit’ were installed at selected locations for 12 months post implementation.

5-year grace period:

●       20mph speed limit road marking roundels

Note - Vehicle Activated Signage (VAS) for 20mph are allowed to be used at local authority discretion despite being repeater signs13.

Enforcement

●      There was a two-month grace period in enforcement before fines were issued from November 2023.

20mph exceptions review

●       Local authorities already had the power to set different speed limits on their road, via the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). This power remains in place.

●       In Nov 2022 government issued a GIS mapping tool and guidance document for traffic authorities to assess which restricted roads could be increased to 30mph. Local authorities required to review their entire road network against the framework to assess for exceptions. A TRO was submitted for any roads assessed to remain as 30mph.

Cost of Implementation

Total cost of implementation has been around £32 million. The funds came from the Welsh Government’s budget allocations for transport and policy implementation.