Slower driving speeds, increased levels of walking and cycling
and minimal impact on journey times are among the key findings of
a new report carried out in areas of Wales trialling the new
default 20mph speed limit.
The interim monitoring report uses data gathered from the Welsh
Government’s eight first phase
areas and has been published today (Friday, March 17) –
exactly six months before default limit is applied across Wales.
On September 17, the Welsh Government will introduce a default
20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales.
Restricted roads include where streetlights are placed no more
than 200 yards apart and are usually located in residential and
built-up areas with high pedestrian activity.
The move will see Wales become the first UK nation to introduce a
lower speed limit following in the footsteps of European
countries, such as Spain, where 30km/h (18.5mph) is
already in place.
Evidence shows reducing the default speed limit from 30mph to
20mph, will see a number of benefits including a reduction in
road collisions and serious injury, more people walking and
cycling and improvements to health and wellbeing.
The report found that, on average, motorists are already driving
slower in the first phase areas with an average speed reduction
of 3mph recorded across all eight communities. Substantial
behaviour change has been observed in St Brides Major and St
Dogmaels (two of the first phase areas to be introduced) where
the number of people driving at or below 24mph has increased from
23% to 45% and from 54% to 84% respectively.
Findings from other 20mph implementations in the UK show that
even small reductions in average speeds across a road network
where people live and work can result in substantial reductions
in collisions and serious injury, helping to make communities
safer.
The report also concluded that in areas where 20mph was
introduced there has been more children walking, cycling, and
scooting to school.
Using data from Living Streets’ Wow walk to school challenge, it
reported that schools in 20mph areas have seen a greater increase
in active travel journeys (49% to 74%), compared to schools
predominantly in 30mph areas (49% to 67%).
Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with a responsibility for
transport, said:
“This latest data is already showing the benefits we can expect
to see across Wales thanks to the bold move we are taking to
lower the default speed limits later this year.
“Decisions like this can be unpopular and we know that change is
never easy, however, evidence from around the world is clear –
reducing speed limits save lives.
“We have made progress on reducing deaths and serious injuries on
our roads over the 21 years of devolution, but we still need to
do more to make the communities we work and live in safer.
“A reduction to 20mph on our residential and other busy
pedestrian urban roads has to be the way forward.”
Joshua James, Public Affairs Manager, Living Streets Cymru added;
“Introducing 20mph as the default speed on our streets will
improve the places where we live, work and go to school – and it
will also save lives.
“We are pleased to be working with the Welsh Government to ensure
that our streets and pavements are safe and accessible for
everyone in our communities, so that more people feel encouraged
to walk or cycle.”
A national communications campaign to help communities get ready
for the change to 20mph has been launched today.
Notes to editors
The Welsh Government committed to publishing an Interim
Monitoring Report (this report) for Phase 1, based on data
collected up until six months after the final trial area was
implemented. This report therefore refers primarily to data
collected by the end of November 2022.
The Welsh Government will continue to gather data from phase 1
trial areas, gradually expanding to more extensive monitoring
following the national roll-out in September.
Living Streets and WOW
The Welsh Government commissioned Living Streets to work with
primary schools within the Phase 1 trial areas and in control
locations during the 2021-22 academic year to better understand
travel behaviours and attitudes towards active travel (walking,
wheeling, and cycling).
WOW is an incentive-based scheme to encourage children to walk or
cycle to primary school.
The WOW tracker is used as part of classroom activities to
monitor school travel behaviour. Schools were given resources to
promote the challenge and log journeys with 3,036 children taking
part.
