Andrew RT Davies criticises Wales' new 20mph speed limit
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has ignored calls from its partner in Government Plaid Cymru to reassess the new 20mph speed limit, Express.co.uk has learned.
It comes as drivers across the country are still getting to grips with the new law rolled out nationwide just months ago.
The news sparked frustration and discontent among many communities, with groups in person and on social media formed to oppose the speed restrictions.
Plaid Cymru, which is in a cooperation agreement with Welsh Labour, backed Mr Drakeford's plans when he announced them earlier this year.
However, the party's new leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has urged the Welsh government to rethink the speed limit in certain areas where it is "unreasonable", calls that have, he said, fallen on deaf ears.
READ MORE Furious drivers fume they can’t drive uphill due to 20mph Welsh speed limits
Mark Drakeford pushed the 20mph speed limit legislation through in September 2023 (Image: Getty)
"Most people think it's a good principle to try to slow traffic down where lots of people live," he told Express.co.uk.
"The legislation isn't bad, and there are exemptions, hence why many 30mph roads haven't changed.
"But in the implementation and the failure to make sure there's consistency in how things have been around Wales, so you do have examples where the speed limit is totally unreasonable now, where it becomes a problem.
"Weeks ago, we put forward a motion to the Senedd calling for a review of where the 20mph isn't reasonable in its practice — but we still haven't seen the government respond to that call."
The new legislation came into force across Wales on September 17, with the maximum speed drivers can travel on restricted roads now 20mph.
Restricted roads are classed, according to the Welsh government, as "roads with streetlights spaced no more than 200 yards apart, usually located in residential and built-up areas".
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People gather in Cardiff to protest the new speed limit days before it was enforced (Image: Getty)
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Mr Drakeford cited many reasons for the change, including to "reduce the number of collisions and severe injuries from them [...] encourage more people to walk and cycle in our communities [...] help to improve our health and wellbeing [...] make out streets safer and safeguard the environment for future generations".
While many, like Mr ap Iorwerth, think the legislation is mostly a good thing, many from across the political spectrum questioned the move.
Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons, described it as "absolutely insane" and accused Labour of "punishing motorists".
Asked by Conservative Ynys M？n MP Virginia Crosbie if she supported it, Ms Mordaunt replied: "This is absolutely insane even by the standards of Labour's Welsh government.
"They have ignored businesses and they have ignored the public. They are pushing ahead with this scheme despite huge opposition to it and I think the latest estimate is it will cost the Welsh economy ￡4.5bn.
"But, more disturbingly, it is going to increase individuals' fuel bills considerably and actually be harmful to the environment."
What do you think about the new 20mph speed limit in Wales? Vote in our poll below, or if you can't see it, click here.
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Rhun ap Iorwerth's Plaid Cymru are in an agreement with Welsh Labour due to expire in 2024 (Image: Getty)
She added: "[Ms Crosbie] is right, there are circumstances where, of course, 20mph speed limits are a good idea, but having them as the default for many roads is crazy.
"Instead of punishing motorists, Labour should be focusing on fixing public transport, in particular the trains."
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Many communities appear to agree, with several groups on social media platforms like Facebook popping up after the legislation was imposed.
Each has thousands of members, many toted things like "South Wales AGAINST Blanket 20mph Speed Limits", "Stop the 20 MPH speed limit", and "Wales against 20mph".
Almost half a million people — around 16 percent of Wales' population — have signed a record-breaking petition calling for the Senedd to "rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law".
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