Worries over changes to 20mph limit slow reversal
BBCWorrying about potential deaths means there will be a “cautious attitude” to reverse the 20-mph speed limit on one road despite strong local support.
Public consultation in Wrexham County ended at the end of January showed that most people would like to see 52 roads under consideration to restore to 30 mph.
Wales’ council is reviewing its 20 mph road after nearly half a million people petitioned the Welsh government Ask to cancel it.
The Welsh government said the main purpose of the policy is to save lives and reduce casualties.
Dave Bithell, a member of the Wrexham Commission’s Transport Strategy, said there were “safety issues” about the changes in the road.
Although he has authorized the change, he said the matter will now be made in a collective decision before the Executive Committee.
He added that the Council has never held the post.
“Whenever we think about road speeds, it’s always about reducing them,” he said.
“As the Council, we never speed up.”
Bithell said that if an accident occurs, the increase in speed increases the risk of harm, “so we need to solve this problem correctly.”
“I don’t want my conscience—and I don’t think the executive board wants to be in their conscience—I don’t want it if death occurs after a change.”
The Welsh government changed the default speed limit on most urban roads on September 17, 2023 and had some exemptions, with most 30 miles of roads turning into 20 miles.
Data for the first year of policy show About 100 people were killed or seriously injured On a 20 mph road.
These figures show that the number of injured people fell by 28% and the number of deaths decreased by 10 compared to the same period last year.
But the plan has been one of the most controversial moves of the Welsh government since its decentralization when Mark Drakeford served as the first minister.
The policy is now under review and local authorities are considering whether more roads can be turned back to 30mph.
20mph’s policy is “a mess”
The head of Wrexham committee MP Mark Prichard said the policy of 20mph was introduced from the outset “a mess”.
“The Welsh government was told that no one listened,” he said.
“What I want to say to any government, not just the Welsh government, is learned from it, don’t do it again. The numbers in the petition, the money spent.
“Millions of dollars are being made while local authorities are struggling for money.”
Cabinet Transport and North Wales’ Ken Skates said the main goal of the policy is to save lives and reduce casualties.
“Built on a broad consensus on where people live, work and play, we want to make sure we have the right speed on the right path,” he said.
“With the support of the Welsh Government, the expressway authorities have now begun a formal process to review their 20mph roads based on revised guidance and feedback received.”
Mr. Skateboard said many local authorities have completed the process and there is more to follow in the coming weeks and months.
The Wrexham Commission’s goal is to complete the target date for May to complete the backwards.
Bitel said local authorities want to work with Road Safety Organisations to safely, and North Wales Police conduct a campaign to make people aware of the change.
