20’s plenty
Working in partnership with police forces across Wales, Welsh Government and the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, Go Safe”, South Wales Police want to remind communities of the importance of sticking to the speed limit, and ensuring that 20 is plenty, and necessary where the speed limit has been set at 20 miles per hour.The first 20mph speed limit was introduced in the UK in 1991 and since then, these zones have widely been adopted by local authorities on many roads as a traffic calming measure and a way of reducing the impact of motor vehicles within our communities.
Daryl Fahey, Chief Inspector South Wales Police said:
“Throughout this week long enforcement activity, officers from South Wales Police, supported by Go Safe will be working to educate and enforce 20 mph speed limits throughout the roads of South Wales.
“20 mph zones are an important and vital way on protecting the most vulnerable within our communities. These areas normally contain schools and other local community interests.
“Drivers need to be aware that if they exceed the speed limit they are committing an offence. Our week of enforcement will target those speeding, but of course we expect motorists to follow the limit at all times.
“Driving in excess of the speed limit within a 20 mph zone, significantly increases the probability of causing injury or worse to our most vulnerable.”
During the campaign last year, police forces across Wales caught over 1,000 drivers who were breaking the law and driving in excess of 20mph in a 20mph zone.
Alun Michael, South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner said:
“Creating safe, confident communities is at the very heart of our joint Police & Crime Reduction Plan and we are committed to working with them to solve local problems.
“20 mph zones are an effective means of reducing road casualties and their presence is an acknowledgement of the need to protect some of our most vulnerable road users, including children, pedestrians and cyclists.
“Road Policing teams, working in partnership with GoSafe, have an important role to play in changing driver behaviour but there are also opportunities for communities to become involved through initiatives such as Community Speedwatch and Operation Snap- together we can take prompt, positive action to ensure an even safer South Wales.”
Teresa Healy, Operations Manager, GoSafe said:
“The #20mphrule outside school campaign has been running since 2014 and was the first campaign of its kind in the UK. It serves to remind drivers to drive at or below the speed limit outside of our schools and demonstrates our commitment to reducing collisions and protecting vulnerable road users on the roads in Wales. Our speed reduction officers will be out in all four police forces throughout the campaign and we would encourage communities to engage with them and find out more about what we do.
“Any drivers caught speeding, and who are eligible, will be offered a specialised driver education course focused on 20mph speed limits which are designed to educate them about the risks of speeding in 20mph limits.
Economy Secretary Ken Skates said:
“20mph speed limits outside schools can make a real difference to road safety by preventing and reducing the severity of collisions. They also help to encourage children and their parents to chose walking and cycling as safe options for their journey to and from school. Through our road safety and safe routes in communities grants, the Welsh Government supports local authorities projects for 20mph limits, whilst we also continue to implement our ongoing programme to put in place 20mph limits outside schools on the trunk road network”.
