In September 2023, Wales introduced a scheme lowering speed limits on urban roads to 20mph, resulting in a reported drop of 100 serious injuries or fatalities in the first year. While the Labour-run Welsh government promotes this as a substantial road safety achievement, the Conservative opposition critiques the broad definition of affected roads and the scheme's implementation. Despite mixed political opinions, evidence suggests fewer traffic accidents correlate with the new limit, although further data is needed for definitive conclusions. Key politicians express varying perspectives on the necessity and execution of the policy.
Peter Fox, who covers transport issues for the Conservatives in the Senedd Cymru, insists his worries about 20mph zones are not about the general idea, just how it was implemented, with the lower limit taken as the standard for built-up streets. None of us are against 20mph around schools, busy residential areas, or anywhere where there's quite a lot of pedestrian footfall, he said. But we didn't need to change the default position.
Lee Waters, who was transport minister in the Labour-run Welsh government when the policy was introduced, has called it the most successful road safety intervention in modern times. But even he concedes that with retrospect it could have been done differently. You have to apply the sniff test, he said.
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