Welsh Police Force Updates on 20mph Speed Limit Road Casualties
The North Wales Police force recently provided an update on the impact of the 20mph speed limit on road casualties. The force’s chief constable and crime commissioner faced questions from a committee of councillors at a North Wales Police and Crime Panel meeting held at Conwy County Council’s Bodlondeb HQ.
Introduced by the Welsh Government a year ago on September 17, 2023, the 20mph default speed limit replaced the previous 30mph limit on residential roads. During the meeting, Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin and Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman acknowledged that they did not have any evidence indicating whether the 20mph speed limit had resulted in a decrease in casualties.
Councillor Chris Bithell raised concerns about the effectiveness of the 20mph zones in reducing accidents, particularly serious ones. He highlighted feedback from constituents who preferred the previous 30mph limit in certain areas, feeling it provided a sense of comfort and safety, especially for children.
In response, Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin mentioned that he did not have the specific figures at hand regarding the impact of the 20mph limit on road casualties. Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman emphasised that enforcement efforts had been focused around vulnerable areas like schools but admitted a lack of concrete evidence regarding the limit’s effect on reducing casualties.
Blakeman assured the councillors that the force would delve into the data to provide a more detailed analysis of the 20mph limit’s impact on road safety. She noted that while serious road traffic collisions often occurred on faster roads, ongoing community engagement and support for enforcing speed limits around schools and hospitals remained strong.
The discussion highlighted the ongoing review of the 20mph speed limit in North Wales and the need for further evaluation to determine its effectiveness in reducing road casualties. This update provided valuable insights into the challenges and complexities of implementing speed limit changes to enhance road safety in the region.