In praise of 20mph
Image of modern city scape. Credit: @Shawn_rain
The recent news that the new system for greater use of 20mph speed limits in Wales has brought down average speeds is very welcome.
According to a BBC Wales report on 20 February 2024, drivers on roads with default 20mph limits have cut 4mph from their average speeds, according to the first set of figures from Transport for Wales.
Cardiff Civic Society warmly welcomes the steps taken by the transport minister, Lee Waters MS to introduce this sensible policy. It has calmed road speeds across Cardiff. This means that other road and pavement users feel safer and more comfortable getting around.
Another report from the Welsh government showed that the policy had been introduced differently in different parts of the country.
On 10 January 2024, BBC Wales reported that Mr Waters has said that the proportion of roads still at 30mph varied greatly between councils - "from over 10% in Swansea and Bridgend, to under one per cent in four north Wales authorities.”
These differences might help explain why residents in some counties are so upset about the changes. It appears some councils did not seek many exemptions and so residents are faced with something close to a blanket implementation of 20mph limits in urban areas, which was not the intention of the policy.
Cardiff Civic Society welcomes the postive and pro-active approach Cardiff council have taken to implementing the new way of working. Credit goes to Cllr Ramesh Patel for having piloted the scheme early, on certain roads in Cardiff. Cllr Caro Wild and Cllr Dan De’ath as his successors as the transport leads in the council also deserve praise, as do officials in the transport department. By having successfully applied for more roads to be taken out of the 20mph scheme and having adopted the scheme early they have helped smooth in the scheme.
We note that the next First Minister of Wales will review the scheme. This will be an important step. it is vitally important that the Welsh government and councils take pro-active steps to include all road and pavement users in this consultation, not just the angry minority of car drivers who are taking time to get used to the scheme. It is important that the Welsh government go out of their way to hear from people who walk on pavements - especially children.
Because away from the all important statistics there are also the more imperecitble benefits. As a woman taking part in recent TV debate on the future First Minister said, these less tangible benefits must be taken into account. One early evening in her village she saw a group of school children walking home from school, out exploring their area, away from the confines of school and home, growing in confidence and awareness of their area.
Somethings were better in the past. It was a good thing in the 1950s when there were fewer cars on the road in as much that children could play in the streets and had more personal freedom. We may not return in full to those days, but things can be better in future too. And Lee Waters as our national transport lead, together with his counterparts here in Cardiff deserve praise for having the vision to put us on the right path.