Wales becomes the first UK nation to make the move – helping to save lives, develop safer communities, improve the quality of life and encourage more people to make more sustainable and active travel choices.
The new slower speed limits are currently being trialled in eight communities across Wales and will be rolled out nationally in September 2023.
The new legislation will not apply a blanket speed limit on all roads, it will simply make the default limit 20mph, leaving local authorities, who know their area best, to engage with the local community to decide which roads should remain at 30mph.
Currently, just 2.5% of Welsh roads have a speed limit of 20mph, but from next year this is expected to increase to approximately 35%, helping to create safer roads and communities across Wales.
Speaking after the vote, Minister for Climate Change, Julie James said:
“I am delighted that the move to 20mph has received cross-party support across the Welsh Parliament today.
“The evidence is clear, decreasing speeds not only reduces accidents and saves lives, but helps improve people’s quality of life – making our streets and communities a safer and more welcoming place for cyclists and pedestrians, whilst helping reduce our environmental impact.
“We know this move won’t be easy – it’s as much about changing hearts and minds as it is about enforcement – but over time 20mph will become the norm, just like the restrictions we’ve introduced before on carrier bag charges and organ donation.
“Once again Wales is leading the way for other UK nations to follow.”
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Councillors believe that introducing 20mph speed limits in areas of Herefordshire could help improve road safety.
Councillor Harrington informed Cabinet members in a meeting last month about plans for new transport measures in Hereford and was confident that reducing the speed of traffic would make roads safer.
Herefordshire Council are looking at the possible introduction of a 20mph speed limit in appropriate zones of the city. This measure will assist with the package in making these localities “streets” for people rather than a road for vehicles, reducing speed levels and increasing safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Buses could also soon be given priority over other motorists on a busy route in Hereford city centre, if Herefordshire Council receives funding from central government.
Herefordshire Council wants to use Government money to create new bus lanes, new cycle lanes as well as enhancing current ones, plus 20mph speed limits and a new transport hub in Hereford.
Many residents will remember the short bus lane that was introduced on Commercial Road during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was around 100 yards long and was soon removed after public criticism. 20mph speed limits in many residential streets and other routes were also removed after active travel measures introduced during the pandemic were lifted.
The Council is set to apply for £46 million of funding for a number of levelling up projects in Herefordshire. The projects include one in the North Herefordshire constituency and one in the Hereford & Herefordshire South constituency. The application would also include money for a transport package.
As part of the transport package, Herefordshire Council is considering introducing bus lanes on routes in the city centre, including bus priority measures along Blueschool Street and Newmarket Street.
