Drivers in first area to ditch 20mph speed limits and admit they ignored rules

DRIVERS IN THE FIRST AREA OF THE UK TO HAVE 20MPH SPEED LIMITS SCRAPPED HAVE SAID THEY WELCOME THE CHANGE - AND ADMITTED THAT THEY DIDN'T STICK TO THE LOWER LIMIT 14:09, 31 May

2025Updated 14:10, 31 May 2025 Motorists in the first UK community to scrap 20mph speed limits have hailed the return to 30mph, confessing that the lower limit was widely flouted. The

reduced speed was rolled out on 'restricted roads' – typically in residential and urban areas - across Wales in September 2023, but it triggered a revolt among drivers.

Consequently, the Welsh government has granted local councils the authority to restore some streets to the original 30mph. This month saw the first two roads in Wales switch back to 30mph

after locals had their say. Both routes are near Wrexham ­- the B5605 Wrexham Road in Johnstown and the A525 Bryn-Y-Grog Road. READ MORE: EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT NEW COVID VARIANT SPREADING

GLOBALLY Anna Roberts, 60, who has called Wrexham Road home for 15 years, claimed the 20mph limit didn't affect traffic speeds. "I think sometimes it is ridiculous going at

20," she remarked. Article continues below "I think around schools and stuff, how it was before, then fine. "In places where there have been accidents and statistics show that

20 would be safer, but I can't see that it makes any difference here." The part-time office worker confessed to often exceeding 20mph. She elaborated: "If it's a road

like this I'd keep to 25 or 26, if it's around a school I'd go down to 20. "I would say that I've rarely gone down to 20 in a place that I didn't think it

needed to be 20. I don't think many people do, though. "Going along, if you've got someone going at 20 there's a queue of traffic behind them." Despite the drop in

road incidents highlighted by Statistics Wales, which reports a significant decrease in casualties on slower roads with 1,751 recorded last year—a 20% fall since 2023—locals are not all

cheering. The Johnstown community has expressed their frustration at the BP petrol station, with voices rising up against the blanket 20mph rule. Mike Robson, aged 38 and experiencing

confusion first-hand, protested the speed changes: "Some areas go from 40 to 20 back to 40 again, which is a bit confusing for people." Caught in a speed trap himself, Robson

explained his struggles: "I've been caught out speeding in the 20 mph areas where it's been a road like this, and it's been a bit confusing because some roads have

changed or they're changing back." The perplexed energy firm boss admits, "I don't really know what's going on, to be honest." Sporting an impressive collection

of motors including a Vauxhall Insignia, BMW, and Range Rover, Robson called for a return to faster limits and openly blamed a collision he'd witnessed on the restrictive speeds.

Robson expressed his discontent, sharing: "There's a lot of people getting angry as well, it does feel weird being on a road like this doing 20, and I know that it affects some

vehicles – especially high-performance vehicles." He further lamented the impact on his premium cars: "I've got a lot of high-performance vehicles and they don't go very

well at 20, so you find a lot of juddering about. "I've seen crashes, especially the older generation, where they want to go bang on 20, and as soon as they slow down, people

behind are in a backlog, and it's like a ripple effect down the traffic. "The fourth car at the end ends up hitting the back, that's what happened in Broughton." Claire

Dodd, 54, was topping up her van at the local petrol station. Despite understanding the intentions behind the 20mph speed limit, the professional dog walker expressed her concerns, saying:

"If somebody's in front of you doing 25, you probably keep up with them – if you've got somebody at the back of you if you're doing 20 or 18, you feel under

pressure." She added: "I think there's a sensible approach to it, I think there's a definite need for 20 mph in residential areas where schools are, but like I said this

is a main trunk road – it's a busy road to do 20. "They've got lots of pedestrian crossings and lots of traffic lights along this road, so I think it's fine back how it

is now. "In some areas, I think it's a benefit and it needs to stay in place, but if they're re-assessing certain roads, this road was one of the good ones to pick, I

think." Community nurse Rebecca Sumner also chimed in, welcoming the return to a 30 mph limit. She remarked: "I think it helps, because doing 20 mph everywhere when you've got

patients to see and you've got a full list, it does account. "So yeah, I'm all for it." Drivers are up in arms over a 20mph limit they claim is causing a headache – with

one retiree branding it "a real pain". Barbara Robins-Partridge, behind the wheel of her trusty Ford Fusion at the local BP garage, vented: "You had to really concentrate on

what you're doing, if you've got 40 then 20 you've got to be on the ball, otherwise you're going to get a ticket." The exasperated motorist praised the slower speeds

near hospitals, saying, "Around hospitals, where it was before was sensible. You want to protect the children, you want to protect people that are going in to hospitals." She

added, with a nod to safety for the little ones and hospital patients: "Where there's a danger, people that might not be as quick on their feet or children who are off with the

fairies, bless them, I think it's brilliant... the ones that are back to 30, it's almost back to normal." Yet some residents are cheering for the persisting pace restriction.

A Wrexham Road resident, preferring anonymity, shared: "We moved here when it had just turned to 20, so I never experienced it being 30." They continued, throwing doubt on its

effectiveness: "There's not been a particular change, because I don't think people were sticking to the 20." From a personal standpoint, they lamented: "On a

personal level, I would have preferred if it had stayed as a 20, not just because of it being our house, but because we've got young children and people walk along this road." And

with a bit of resignation, added: "But I've not noticed a change, because I think people were doing 30 anyway." In a recent statement, Ken Skates, transport secretary of the

Welsh government, affirmed the life-saving objectives: "The principal objective of the policy is to save lives and reduce casualties – and we know there is widespread evidence it does

that. Article continues below "However, this is about getting the right speeds on the right roads, building from the broad consensus that 20mph is right where people live, work and

play. "I am pleased that Wrexham Council has managed to strike a balance and has started to make the changes following feedback from local people. "Our updated guidance allows

local authorities to consider making changes where it is safe and appropriate to do so."