20mph in Wales…..

Well, you can get used to 20

Yes, outside schools, hospitals, residential areas etc

Yes, that was always the point from the very start.  Residential areas.

I am infuriated that this has subject has been resurrected for purely political reasons.

It really had fallen off the radar here and now it’s back in the room because a new minister wants to pretend to change something with smoke and mirrors into what it already is.

It was settling down, people were getting used to it, realising that if you actually go out an drive around and look at how it has been implemented it is not really any trouble.

People were only ever annoyed by the IDEA of it, if you ever asked “what about the zone outside this very pub?” the response was always “that one’s fine it’s going past people’s houses” and when asked “so which ones are not fine?” there is a bit of mumbling about “erm…erm…apparently there’s a terrible on in Cardiff” where nobody can go over 20 before midnight anyway.

Try seeing it from the perspective of people who do not agree with 20mph, rather than the world just through your own eyes dont be such a narrow minded condescending person, for everyone’s sake.

If you were struggling to hold speed riding through berms, someone may suggest getting some coaching. Good advice.

You describe struggling to drive safely at 20mph (by pointing out that you keep watching the speedo rather than the road, your words, not mine). I am therefore suggesting you get some coaching to help you with that skills gap.

You call then condescending, I call it topical advice.

Its also worth saying that I have never had anyone over take me in a 20mph zone, despite it being in place here now for 3 years or so.

In the car I’ve had a couple overtake me in a 20mph only to get held up almost immediately in front of me. One stopped at lights, I pulled up alongside and was able to say, ‘Aiden, why are you driving like a dick?’ through his passenger’s open window because my daughter knew who he was. 😀

On the bike I’ve had plenty overtake me in a 20mph when I’m doing 20, including two this morning, one after the other, who had nowhere to go in front of me other than to hold me up. Dicks.

And yes in one of my cars 20mph is awkward. The car is an automatic so I have no control of the gear. At 20mph it either sits relatively high in the rev range or too low, then it hunts between the 2 gears.

That sounds like a really crap car, can you let us know what manufacture/model please so we know to avoid it please.

FWIW in my auto 320d while I’m driving along I’ve no idea what gear it is in (without selecting manual mode), but know it always seems to be in the ‘right’ gear.

That sounds like a really crap car, can you let us know what manufacture/model please so we know to avoid it please.

Something like a Rover SD1, 3 speed auto at a guess…

Scotland also continues the roll out:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3g7x3lnxxo

Scotland also continues the roll out:

I always like to remind those having an online pop at the 20’s & Labour that my TORY council here in Scotland introduced ‘blanket’ (sic) 20 limits in urban areas.

It’s depressing that so many people look at new policies with the view of “how does this benefit me?”, instead of “how does this benefit society?”.

so many people look at new policies with the view of “how does this benefit me?”, instead of “how does this benefit society?”.

Is that one of the defining differences between right wing and left wing politics? (with some exceptions such as that pointed out by intheborders

I’ve just spent two weeks in north Wales, Llanberis for the first and Betws Y Coed for the second. I had no problem with the 20 speed limits, was relaxing and much easier on narrow roads with parked cars. Gave both directions chance to get through.

I’ll be honest there were a couple of moments initially where I’d ended up at thirty through habit, once the neurons fired I was back at speed limit. I quickly got used to it. I would have no problem with 20 being introduced where I live in Cumbria (this happened during lockdowns, it was great).

No problem sitting at 20 in my van. Most people seemed to be sticking to limit or 25mph, which is better than 35!

Just to add, got home last night, driving at 30 through Windermere now seems far too quick.

Is that one of the defining differences between right wing and left wing politics?

The difference between left and right is where you draw the boundary between ‘us’ and ‘them’.

I was walking in Cardiff city centre the other day and two blokes were walking behind me.  First bloke asked “20mph isn’t all roads though, is it?” His mate replied “Yeah, it’s blanket, it’s everywhere, it’s ridiculous”.  The road we were walking along is 30, there were big 30 signs right in front of them, and they would have driven along it for quite some distance to get to their parking spot.

I think the Welsh are finally running out of black spray paint and turps – given the number of ‘defaced’ road signs.

Great result.

“The number of people injured on 20 and 30mph roads in Wales fell by almost a third in the final quarter of last year, new data published by the Welsh government shows.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjee04vlqglo

I am not surprised, driving at 20mph in a car does seem very slow and therefore you would need to be really not concentrating to end up driving into anything.

I have been setting cruise control to 20mph over last few days as the roads have all been chip sealed with 10mph max/skid risk.  It just feels so ridiculously safe compared to the 30 or 40 limits that the roads have.

It just feels so ridiculously safe compared to the 30 or 40 limits that the roads have.

Down with that sort of thing!

Another remarkable statistic that is hard to argue against:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/09/vehicle-damage-claims-wales-fall-20mph-speed-limit

Now we just need lower premiums in Wales due to lower risk.

I recently spent a week in the Scottish Borders where 20mph speed limits have been in place for some years. They appeared to be obeyed at all times and I was never harassed to go faster, conversely around here (Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire) I get harassed regularly for complying with the 30, 40 and 50 limits! I read the report above this morning and wasn’t surprised at all it is quite obvious that life will be safer, except to right wing zealots it would appear..

@molgrips Lab campaigning on reducing insurance costs in the UK. I’m dubious they can do anything about this given it’s an international issue but they know what they need to do.

As an aside in Gear Change, there was a commitment to allowing communities to petition local government to reduce speed limits or introduce modal filters. It would be nice if the more progressive parties would commit to this…

I drove through North Wales this week for the first time since the speed limit changes. Was absolutely fine. Signage was good, nobody overtook me in 20 limits, didn’t take appreciably longer than before.

A little aside.  My recently put back on the road BSA.  Its an utter bugger to ride at 20 mph.  Has to be second gear but revs are a bit high and it will not run well at a steady 20 mph – its on pilot jet and hunts coughs and splutters.  grrrrrrrr.  🙂

Shit bike 😉

Old bike – older than me 🙂

Just had to pass all the way through Wales to get to Pembrokeshire. I have no problem with the 20 mph limit in built up environments but it’s implementation feels shambolic as an outsider (live in Edinburgh so aware of 20mph changes). Zones feel randomly allocated, 40 in locations I’d regard as 20 suitable, and many locations where the limit drops from a 60 national limit to a 20 without notification other than an Araf/ Slow on the road surface. This doesn’t however specifically designate a speed zone change but the condition of the road.

Overall not particularly impressed. Inconsistent is how I’d describe it.

Also, there seemed to be a shortage of 30mph signage…perhaps the local supplier had run out. Plenty of 20 to 40 to 50 to national speed signs tho 👏🤦‍♂️

many locations where the limit drops from a 60 national limit to a 20 without notification

Well the 20s should only be in built up areas so the presence of buildings should make you assume it’s going to be 20.  But yeah, some “20 ahead” signs wouldn’t go amiss – some places have plenty of “30 ahead” ones.  But then again, most rural Welsh councils have low budgets so there are fewer signs in general of all types.

There’s something very controlling, top-down command-control, meddlesome and incompetent about those in control of the Welsh “parliament”.

Unfortunately the same mind-virus is coming to Westminster on 5th of July

I’ve got a long drive across the middle of Wales in a couple of weeks, driving there used to be a joy

No one is in control of the Welsh parliament – no party has overall control.  The largest party (Labour) only has 30 seats of a maximum possible 60.

The 20mph policy was voted through by a majority of all parties though – Conservative, Plaid Cymru and Labour as it was judged by them to be good policy and appropriate for Wales

I’ve got a long drive across the middle of Wales in a couple of weeks, driving there used to be a joy

thoughts and prayers

I’ve got a long drive across the middle of Wales in a couple of weeks, driving there used to be a joy

Yeah my driving was ruined when 30mph became 20mph, I literally got rid of my car soon after.

Yeah my driving was ruined when 30mph became 20mph, I literally got rid of my car soon after.

Standard practice is to drive at 40mph* through the NSL sections and 40mph through the reduced speed areas anyway, so not sure why he’s worried about his drive being spoiled?

*unless there’s potential that someone in the queue of traffic behind might overtake and then you accelerate to 58 for a few seconds before dropping back down to 40 again.

Well the 20s should only be in built up areas so the presence of buildings should make you assume it’s going to be 20.

In the same way we think about 30 being the default in England in a built up area. If you can’t figure it out, hand back your **** license.

I drove across wales twice in the last few months.  20 limits were no issue at all bar one which was 3/4 of the way down a steep slope with no warning sign – a bit tricky to get down to 20 without hard braking.  Every other 20 mph limit I saw was appropriate, well signed and zero issue

Standard practice is to drive at 40mph* through the NSL sections and 40mph through the reduced speed areas anyway, so not sure why he’s worried about his drive being spoiled?

I’m not in my 70s yet.

I’m not in my 70s yet.

What’s that tartan rug doing on your parcel shelf then, Grandad?

Drac out in his motor!… 🙂

There’s something very controlling, top-down command-control, meddlesome and incompetent about those in control of the Welsh “parliament”.

Is it not referred to as the Senedd or Senedd Cymru?

It certainly is. He really is a crap troll.