The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 20222 MPH

Any maximum speed limit below 30 mph (other than a temporary limit made under section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or a 20 mph limit or a 20 mph zone) requires the consent of the national authority (paragraphs 13 and 14 of Schedule 9 to the Act as amended by the Road Traffic Regulation Act (Amendment) Order 1999); such limits are unlikely to be agreed.

WELSH STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2022 No. 800 (W. 177)

ROAD TRAFFIC, WALES

The Welsh Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 81(2) and (3) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984(1), and after consultation with the Secretary of State as required by section 81(5) of that Act, make the following Order.

A draft of this Order has been approved by a resolution of Senedd Cymru in accordance with section 81(3)(aa) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Title, application and commencement

1.—(1) The title of this Order is the Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022.

(2) This Order applies in relation to Wales.

(3) This Order comes into force on 17 September 2023.

Lowering of the general speed limit for restricted roads

2.—(1) The rate of speed fixed by section 81(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (general speed limit for restricted roads) is reduced to 20 miles per hour.

(2) Accordingly, the reference in section 81(1) of that Act to “30 miles per hour” is to be interpreted as a reference to “20 miles per hour”.

Julie James

Minister for Climate Change, one of the Welsh Ministers

13 July 2022

The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022

Paragraphs 13 and 14 of Schedule 9, however, provide that certain orders cannot be made without the consent of the Secretary of State. This Order removes orders applying a speed limit of 20 miles per hour to any road from the list of orders requiring the Secretary of State’s consent.