July 16 2024

Responding to the Welsh Government’s publication today of guidance about setting 30mph speed limits on restricted roads and other 20mph roads Aaron Hill, Director, Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Cymru says,  

"Bus operators across Wales will be pleased to see the Welsh Government has recognised the negative impact its 20mph policy has made on bus speeds across the country. 

“Ultimately, this new guidance will result in a small number of speed limit changes, and only go some of the way towards addressing the concerns of bus passengers, who want faster - not slower – journeys. If they are to see better and more reliable services, it is vital for every local authority to ensure buses are given greater priority on our roads.  

“Bus operators have identified more than 50 routes across Wales where roads could be safely returned to 30mph. It is essential local authorities now engage with operators and work closely with us to achieve this change on these roads." 

ENDS 

 

 

Notes for Editors 

Since the rollout of a default 20mph speed limit on roads across Wales bus operators have worked tirelessly to minimise disruption and ensure services reach customers in line with their timetables, but passengers have faced persistent delays.    

The guidance on setting 30mph speed limits on restricted roads and other 20mph roads is an addendum to Circular No. 24/2009 Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales1 (SLSLiW) voted into law by Senedd Cymru in July 2022 and which took effect in September 2023.  

This guidance has been drafted to supersede the section dealing with ‘Setting exceptions to the 20mph default speed limit for restricted roads’. It will apply equally to restricted roads and to roads where a 20mph speed limit has been applied by an order of the traffic authority under section 84(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (‘the 1984 Act’). 

The default position is that a road in England and Wales is a restricted road if there is provided on it a system of street lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 200 yards apart (see section 81 of the1984 Act) though the same legislation also gives a traffic authority powers to un-restrict such roads or to impose restriction upon a non-restricted road.