North Wales Live readers have been debating the latest figures revealing that almost 36,000 drivers in North Wales were caught flouting the 20mph speed limit in 2024. The introduction of this reduced speed limit, starting late March 2024, has split opinion, with some hailing it as a crucial move for safety and others dismissing it as a simple cash grab.
Fresh statistics released by GoSafe Wales show that during the initial year of the 20mph speed enforcement across Wales, over 85,000 drivers were nabbed for speeding. The operation kicked off sooner in Mid and South Wales, beginning in November 2023, and resulted in more than 48,000 incidences of speeding throughout 2024.
Safety advocates point out that the offence rate remains akin to the period before the new limits were imposed, arguing this demonstrates their “effectiveness”. Meanwhile, drivers have seen some clemency with the prosecution threshold set at 26mph—though this could be reduced to 24mph come March 2025.
One reader, Flipineck says: “The places in Flintshire are all static speed cameras that have been there for years.” Fairplayforuk adds: “Money money money that’s all it is.”
Vaughan-guessing believes: “20mph is purely a money making exercise, it has nothing to do with road safety. Remember Wales has the highest unemployment level in all of the UK with so many people claiming benefits and 33% of the nation is employed within the Public Sector. Do the maths yourself and you’ll find Wales needs every penny it can find otherwise it will be bankrupt.”
Ofcourseitis comments: “Still no main roads near me reverted back to 30mph, 16 months on now from when WG said this ridiculous law would hit the Welsh economy for £9 Billion pounds, 85,000 less Labour voters in Wales and counting at the next Senedd elections.”
Apollo11 comments: “3,082 on Gladstone Way Hawarden and I see drivers still speeding there even before/ during/after school times. Constant speeding in and out of Hawarden village!”
Rojer writes: “Lucky I have a speed limiter on my car as it is virtually impossible to keep to 20mph especially down hill.”
Dye adds: “Another, form of car tax. Electric bikes now going faster than cars, but they can’t be prosecuted as they have no registration plate.”
Rojer says: “Because you have said that, I bet the next idea from Cardiff will be registration plates for electric bikes. Already if you have an electric bike with a motor above the legal limit of 250 Watt 36 volt, you do need to tax and insure it.”
Colin replies: “Only illegal electric bikes can go that fast. Legal electric bicycles are limited to 15mph.” Chucker says: “If your still getting done for speeding after all of this time basically serves you right. We all know it’s there.”
Dogma asks: “Has the 20 limit raised the exhaust emissions in area’s or no one cares long as accidents are reduced?”
Linthepin writes: “But Napier University, Edinburgh, have said that over the next 10 years more than 12,000 people in Wales will NOT be injured or killed as a result of the lowering of the speed limit. (But only if people stick to it, of course). Those 12,000+ people could be anyone – children, OAPS, working people and all of whom will have families who are affected by the injury or death. There will presumably be 12,000+ less hospital beds used up for road accidents and all of these beds are funded by the taxpayer, as is the hospital treatment and the nurses/doctors wages. If all healthcare in the UK was privately funded then I might have more sympathy with Andrew R. T. Davies etc. but it is not.”
So do you feel that the lower speed limit is working or not? Let us know HERE or in the comments below.