New 20mph speed limits for Wales

The more I think about it I couldn't really see any issue if it were introduced on the roads where I live.

On the residential streets you generally struggle to do 30mph anyway due to parked cars and the non-residential roads that have a 30mph limit aren't that long before they switch to a 40mph or higher anyway.
 
It'll be interesting and i think it's generally a good idea, on residential streets it's a no brainer for sure but thinking about my commute i pass through 4x 30mph sections going through 4 villages, they are all quite long and 2 at least are not really near any housing or schools etc. I'm sure I'll get used to it fairly quickly but i can see a lot of people getting frustrated by it and doing stupid things, when i do 30 through some of those sections people drive right up your bumper trying to get you to speed as it is.
 
I saw in the article that one of the reasons against is due to cyclists going more than 20mph. I don't know the law, aren't cyclists using the road bound to the same speed limits as cars? If so, then cyclists should be fined for breaking speed limits the same as cars, and fined for dangerous overtaking at slow speeds, or not giving a car enough room when passing from behind.
 
danlightbulb said:
I saw in the article that one of the reasons against is due to cyclists going more than 20mph. I don't know the law, aren't cyclists using the road bound to the same speed limits as cars?
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Not generally no, in the Road Traffic Act the speed limits on roads are for motor vehicles and don't include bicycles. There are some exceptions as to every rule though.

We only have advisory 20 mph limits in Lincolnshire (green signs) but travelling around various other city's lately I've come across more and more legal 20 mph limits, and it's too easy to just tick over the limit by a few mph!
 
Going to feel slow at first. I mean it is 1/3 slower.
That's a lot.

I don't have an issue with it myself. But it will feel annoying for a long while. I will be keeping up and probably overtaking cars even with my 15mph electric bike.
 
seems a crazy idea , it's not going to be efficient for either ICE or EV running at that speed;
I regularly drive through Fakenham/nfk and they have extensive 20mph which few people manage to achieve.

Allowing motorist to drive at 30mph gets them past most cyclists, more safely, too;
low confidence cyclists won't be suddenly unlocked with motorists dropping to 20mph, the car can still knock you off.
 
20 is an awkward speed in my car, revs too low for 3rd but a bit high in 2nd.

Not keen on the idea of all 30's becoming 20. Each road should be looked at and a decision made on its suitability. Don't think anyone would mind on residential streets, usually so many parked cars that you can't go more than 20 anyway.

I'm guessing the benefit for cyclists is that drivers won't bother to overtake at 20 if the cyclist is doing a decent pace.
 
Some 30 sections should be 20, but some should be faster. As I live in a fairly built up area with a lot of 30 limits, this would make driving around the area pretty tedious. I would say that everyone will ignore 20 limits, but there are a worrying number of people who already blindly follow the 30 limits.
 
Unless they speed trap/monitor these 20mph zones a lot of people will just ignore them as all these 20mph zones generally cause is people that stick to the 20mph limit get tailgated and harassed by people that dont give a **** or these same drivers pull more dangerous maneuvers to pass the car(s) and the cyclist.
 
We've got 60mph ropads reduced to 40mph and 40mph and 30mph roads reduced to 20mph here. It's ridiculous. I'm sure it's being done just to annoy people enough to avoid the area.
 
Where I live they don't even keep to the 30mph limit at the top of my road I see cars often doing 70-80mph you know the type 'look at me ive got a turbo charger' on the odd occasion i see a car doing 30 its like wow thats going slow!
 
Easy for them to say in Cardiff.

In rural Wales it will take forever to get anywhere between the constant villages all over the place, getting stuck behind a lorry all the time and nowhere much to overtake. Its already slow going.
 
Semple said:
This. Pretty much all residential roads around Manchester are 20, but most don't bother sticking to 20.
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It was like that down a road I often use. Marked 20 forever and ignored also forever...

...right up until the council put up average speed cameras. Now people do 20mph.
 
It's a right PITA for me. I visit my mum in Wales at least every 2 weeks and if the old Severn Bridge is closed, I have to use the new one and double back on myself...through 3 linear villages, all with 20mph limits (and cameras)
So an annoying detour because the bridge is closed, which would normally make a 50 minute journey a 65 minute one, took 80 minutes last weekend
Maybe next time I'll double back on the M48...actually, maybe that's what these 20mph limits are trying to achieve - driving** folks off minor roads

**pun intended
 
The they they push things the more people will start to rebel, it's human nature.

I'm heading towards the point now where I am wondering if and how long you'd get away with fake plates.

I guess if you had an accident (particularly caught on some camera) you'd have a problem, otherwise who is going to stop you?
 
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