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20mph default speed limits in Wales

 

About the 20mph default speed limit

New legislation from Welsh Government means that the default national speed limit was reduced from 30mph to 20mph on restricted roads in September 2023. Since that date, the maximum speed you can legally travel on restricted roads is 20mph.

 

Restricted roads are classed as 'roads with streetlights spaced no more than 200 yards apart, usually located in residential and built-up areas'.

 

The Welsh Government made this change for a number of reasons, including:

  • reducing the number of collisions and severe injuries from them

  • encouraging more people to walk and cycle in our communities

  • helping to improve our health and wellbeing

  • making our streets safer; and

  • safeguarding the environment for future generations

 

More information on 20mph and some frequently asked questions on the policy can be found on gov.wales.

 

 

Review of 20mph speed limits

In July 2024 every council in Wales was asked to collect residents’ feedback on 20mph limits so that they could assess this against revised Welsh Government guidance on setting 30mph speed limits on restricted roads and other 20mph speed limit roads. This revised guidance was published in July.

 

The comments received are now being reviewed.

 

Next steps

We are reviewing all the comments we have received and assessing them against the revised guidance.

 

The review process will likely take to the end of the calendar year to undertake and once completed, the results will be published on our website.

 

When determining whether a road should have a higher speed limit, councils must be certain that any such increase will not have a negative impact on road safety.

  

If the revised guidance suggests that a road we have received feedback on is suitable for a 30mph speed limit, we will explain this when we publish the results of the review.

 

Roads where 30mph would not be suitable under the revised guidance will remain at the default speed limit of 20mph.

 

For any road where the revised guidance suggests a 30mph speed limit could be suitable, we will produce a traffic regulation order (TRO), which is a legal process we must follow if we are to alter the speed limit.

 

Every TRO will be subject to a public consultation, where residents can show support or raise objections. We will publish details of any changes on our website.

 

Following the TRO consultations, final decisions will be made on any changes as part of the council’s normal decision-making processes.

 

The Welsh Government listening period for road reviews has now closed however if you wish to request a speed limit for review please contact our contact centre.