New 20mph default speed legislation
Welsh government will introduce a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads in Wales from September 2023.
These are roads with streetlights no more than 200 yards apart, usually located in residential and built-up areas.
Once the new law comes into force, all restricted roads will default from 30mph to 20mph. This means that the maximum speed you can legally travel at on these roads will be 20mph.
There are some roads that will remain at 30mph. These roads will be signed in the same way that roads with higher speed limits are now.
Any speed signs currently in place indicating a 20mph limit will be removed. There will be no signs in place to remind you of the speed limit where it is the default. This is the same as it currently is in 30mph limits.
Welsh government are aiming to bring in the new 20mph default speed in September 2023. Work will be undertaken across Newport between now and this date to prepare for the change.
This includes removing the 20mph and 30mph roundel markings from the road in the run up to the implementation date.
These markings are advisory and not required for the enforcement of speed limits, so can be removed prior to the rollout.
(example of a 20mph roundel marking)
Existing 20mph limits in residential areas across the city will remain in place until the new default limit comes into force. As this time all 20mph signs will be removed.
We will not bring in any new 20mph speed limits in Newport until the legislation comes into force.
Welsh government have advised that reducing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on restricted roads could see many benefits. These include:
- Helping to improve our health and wellbeing
- Making our streets safer
- Safeguarding the environment for future generations
- Reducing road collisions; and
- More opportunities to walk and cycle in our communities
Newport maps and 30mph exceptions
Maps showing which streets in Newport will default to 20mph, and which streets will have limits set at 30mph, are now available to view.
The maps have been published on Welsh Government’s Data Map Wales site, and can be viewed by clicking the link below.
VIEW NEWPORT’S MAP
The streets which will have 30mph speed limits are known as exceptions, as they are not subject to the new default limit.
We have created traffic regulation orders (TROs) for each of the exceptions. These are the legal orders that allow us to set the speed limit in these streets at 30mph.
View traffic regulation orders
There is not public consultation process for the streets defaulting to 20mph. This is because they are being defaulted in line with the national speed limits.
Current work
The council has already undertaken some work to prepare for the changes coming into force in September.
Firstly, we have reviewed our streets and determined which should default to 20mph and which could be 30mph. This has been determined using criteria set by Welsh government.
We are also starting to install new poles in places where new signposts will be required.
As a reminder, all existing 20mph signs will be removed when the new speed limits come into effect. This is because 20mph will be the default speed limit.
New signs will be installed to mark streets with speed limits at 30mph.
Further information
https://gov.wales/introducing-20mph-speed-limits
https://gov.wales/proposal-reduce-speed-limit-20mph-residential-streets-summary-responses-html
The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022 (DRAFT)
Welsh Government 20mph leaflet - July 2022