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Original poster

How are you finding the 20mph limit in Wales?

27 replies

HolidaysMakeMeHappy · 19/09/2023 15:26

It's not been too much of a problem around my area so far, the main issue I've had has been people who are driving at 20mph on 40 and 30 sections!!!

There is a hill near me that is clearly signed as 30 but I followed a car up it at 17 mph this morning

OP posts:
mumonthehill · 19/09/2023 15:32

Ha ha I had the same yesterday!! Someone seeming to think all roads are now 20. It has been fine, it is slow but ok. The backlash has been huge though and most people hate it.

Original poster
HolidaysMakeMeHappy · 19/09/2023 15:35

It isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be...........it's going to take some getting used to though.

OP posts:
CosyFanTucci · 19/09/2023 15:40

Our village (England) has been 20mph for a couple of years now and it makes a massive difference to the quality of life of its residents. It's quieter, calmer and far safer (check out the stats for the likelihood of children surviving being hit by a driver at 20mph vs 30mph). Traffic flow also seems improved. There are still quite a few arseholes who steam through at 30+ so some actual enforcement of the limit would be welcome.

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Driving & parking
LubaLuca · 19/09/2023 15:43

Happy enough. I drove into a town yesterday and everyone seemed to be complying and it didn't feel odd.

I suppose what happens is that all those dickheads who went at 40mph through villages and towns will now do 30mph instead, so small gains but better for everyone.

MuddlingThroughLife · 19/09/2023 15:44

I keep getting overtaken when I'm doing 20. Yes, they are roads that are supposed to be 20. I think its going to cause more accidents, not less

FurierTransform · 19/09/2023 15:56

Surprised people don't just ignore it. 20mph everywhere is just too painfully slow.
And it also reduces the 'specialness' that did exist where you have a 20 limit past schools/specific hazards etc.

Defiantlynot41 · 19/09/2023 16:09

The 50MPH limit on the M48 is more bothersome! The 20mph limit is not too bad but there is a stretch which goes 30-20-50 and is horrible.

Sadik · 19/09/2023 16:10

People seem to be complying here. I'm really happy that it's been introduced. Truthfully I think in a year or so once it beds in people will be happier to let dc walk to school etc etc, and it'll take traffic off the roads resulting in journeys taking less time not more.

ToxicPositivity · 19/09/2023 16:10

Our county has been 20mph for I think 2 years now. Had reduced average speeds by 3mph and crashes minimally.

Oldandcobwebby · 19/09/2023 16:11

I put my speed limiter on and pootle around quite happily. It's clearly going to be safer and queter. I fail to see why anybody has made a fuss.

haveyouopenedyourbowelstoday · 19/09/2023 16:11

Slow! But 2 of my doctors were bumped into on the way into work yesterday (separate journeys).
Can't help but think we are going to see more as people get used to it.
And we won't even think about the road rage!!

gogomoto · 19/09/2023 16:12

I didn't notice any difference in Cardiff, most the major roads seemed to be marked as 30 and side streets were already 20 before. I've since checked the website and they are 30, not just a case of signage wrong

massistar · 19/09/2023 16:12

Absolutely fine. It's only really 20 in the village where it's hard to go faster than that anyway. As soon as you're out of the village it's back to 30.

FirstTimeNameChanger · 19/09/2023 16:14

According to our local Facebook group, there will be carnage on the roads as people are simply unable to handle the inevitable road rage that results from taking an extra 2 mins to get through a village. There will be chaos, anarchy, protests, and possibly it will lead to a revolution. 'They' will learn that 'we' aren't sheeple 🥴

In reality, it's fine. A bit slower. People are abiding by it

DewinDwl · 19/09/2023 16:15

I don't drive so no massive difference for me! The bus was the same it always is, no chance of going over 20 mph in my route anyway.

So it's not affected my life other than people moaning about it. Honestly yesterday the way some people went on and on about it you'd think the world was coming to an end.

VeridicalVagabond · 19/09/2023 16:16

It'd be fine if people actually did 20, but I keep getting stuck behind people doing 15 which is just... painful. I shouldn't have to go into 2nd gear to get up the hill into our village.

And then you get the people who have always driven everywhere at 40, still driving everywhere at 40. Shockingly, people who've never given a shit about speed limits continue to not give a shit!

LizzysDrippings · 19/09/2023 16:18

Our village (England) has been 20mph for a couple of years now

through villages would make sense. Through ours does too, but on the unpopulated bit, right before it changes to a 50 zone, it’s a bit extreme.

Most in our area have been abiding to it, a few are driving up your bumper, flashing lights at you and gesturing, and a couple are even recklessly overtaking!

My car is not liking it at all. 2nd gear is a strain, 3rd gear is juddery and I have to leave for work 10 minutes earlier, so 7am instead of 7:10, which is a slight pain but no big deal.

People are also pulling out of side roads randomly in front of you as they seem to think that, because you can stop easier, they should get to pull out. Bizarre. I think it’s going to cause more accidents.

Weefreetiffany · 19/09/2023 16:19

All the backlash against it has legitimised people to think they can ignore the 20mph limit in the roads by us in London. Bastards.

BestIsWest · 19/09/2023 16:27

It’s been fine. It’s been mostly 20 round by us for a few years anyway. We’ve driven from where we live to a village in Carmarthenshire and to Cardiff this week and I think there were 3 places where the speed limit had changed from what it was last week.

Lightbulbspark · 19/09/2023 16:38

It's OK. Driving at 20 is easy enough with my small automatic car. The high street feels calmer to walk through too.

WellDuh · 19/09/2023 16:45

It's being ignored for the most part where I live. Was good for the first day then since early hours this morning everyone is back to 30+!

LydiaTomos · 19/09/2023 16:53

It's fine here, easier to join roads in junctions. I've seen some cars doing 20 in 30 area, but they'll get used to it.

My daughter wants to start walking home from school soon, if this works I'll be more likely to let her.

anniegun · 19/09/2023 16:57

Most people want to be able to drive more quickly. Except their own road/village /school when funnily enough 20 is plenty !

ThreeFeetTall · 19/09/2023 17:15

Not all roads are 20 so it's not a big deal. The traffic jams are still in the usual places. I'm not sure it will change much really but also don't get the huge fuss. The way it has been reported makes it sound like all dual carriageways are going to be 20 Confused

LittleLegsKeepGoing · 19/09/2023 18:06

I've been watching the over-hyped mouth frothing with some amusement. We're in Cardiff which has been largely 20mph except for the main through routes (A470, A48, A4232) for absolutely ages.

Mostly, it's like the rest of the highway code, arsehole drivers continue to be arsehole drivers by ignoring the law and overtaking dangerously but most people manage it just fine. I will concede though that there are routes that really could be safe at 30mph that aren't. Wide, clear roads, with two lanes are bloody stupid at 20mph...but I can only think of one or two roads like that in Cardiff that aren't already exempt.

The journey back to my mother's house didn't noticeably changed in duration on Sunday even with three new 20mph villages to drive through.

I'm apparently lucky though that my little old car is perfectly happy in 3rd gear for 20mph. I'm maintaining my 40mpg average fuel consumption and not finding the car struggles at all. It sounds like some newer non-electric cars are finding it a bit more difficult to drive along naturally at 20mph.

I'm all for keeping the limit on truly restricted roads, if someone is likely to step out between parked cars in front of you, that's enough for the road to be 20mph IMO, but as with most things from the Senedd it hasn't had much common sense applied. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out and if Scotland are paying attention for their proposed blanket 20mph introduction in 2025.