20mph speed limits in Wales
The Senedd passed The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022 legislation in 2022. This means speed limits on most restricted roads reduced from 30mph to 20mph on 17 September 2023.
Restricted roads are classed as those streets that include street lights placed no more than 200 yards apart. They are usually located in residential and built-up areas with high pedestrian activity.
It was considered by Welsh Government that reducing the default speed limit from 30mph to 20mph in these areas would provide a number of benefits, including:
- a reduction in the number of road collisions
- more opportunities to walk and cycle in our communities
- helping to improve our health and wellbeing
- making our streets safer
- safeguarding the environment for future generations.
- reduced severity of injury if collisions do occur
Wales is one of the first countries in the world and the first nation in the UK to introduce legislation to have a 20mph speed limit on roads where cars mix with pedestrians and cyclists.
These changes supported:
As part of the implementation process local authorities were asked to identify roads or sections of roads which they believed should remain at 30mph (Exceptions).
Caerphilly Council developed a number of Exceptions across the borough and a report detailing the recommendations was submitted to councils Cabinet for approval on the 26th July 2023. At that meeting, Cabinet approved the making of the Caerphilly County Borough Council Speed Limits Traffic Regulation Order 2023 as amended and the additional signage and road markings as detailed within that report.
Request/Suggest a 20mph speed limit change(s)
Following the speed limit changes, the Welsh Government have announced a review of the 20mph / 30mph speed limit guidance - Read the Welsh Government statement.
If you have any specific suggestions (along with valid reasons) for why a road should be exempted from the 20mph national speed limit, we will log the feedback and review it once the new exceptions guidance is available from Welsh Government.
We expect to receive this guidance during the summer. Consultations on any proposed changes will take place after the individual sections of road have been reviewed against the new guidance.
Any suggestions relating to this must include valid reasons for why the changes are considered necessary.
All correspondence should be submitted via the online form below. The requests will be assessed against the Welsh Government guidance and where changes are deemed appropriate, the proposals will be taken forward in accordance with the traffic regulation order legal process.
Submit 20mph feedback
Please note, we will not be able to log any general comments about the 20mph National Policy, as that is a matter for the Welsh Government and Welsh Government Ministers.