What was distinctive about 2025 for 20’s Plenty for Us was how the narrative developed from whether to introduce 20mph limits as an urban/village norm into how they should be implemented.

The die was cast in November 2024 when the Welsh Government was awarded the Prince Michael of Kent International Road Safety Award for its national 20mph policy. It had legislated to set a 20mph limit for all built-up roads with lighting that were currently 30mph with local authorities able to set exceptions.

By February 2025 the first year’s casualty data for Wales had been published and 20’s Plenty  held a webinar on 26^th February to show the results. This was particularly aimed at transport professionals and local authorities. The extent of interest was such that we had 776 registrations and 531 attending on the day. Presentations showed a 26% reduction in casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads combined in Wales in the first 12 months of the 20mph limit. This meant that 630 fewer people in Wales were injured or killed on such roads in the 12 months since the 20mph limit was introduced, including 80 fewer fatal or serious injuries. Excluding the Covid period, this drop was 3 times larger than any previous year-on-year reduction. The figures were endorsed by an insurance company noticing a drop in damage claims that were 20% lower than expected. This led to an average premium reduction of £45 in Wales.

In March, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), published a comprehensive overview of how 20mph speed interventions are affecting road safety, public health, and health equity across the UK. It detailed the positive impact of 20mph speed limits on casualties, health outcomes, air and noise pollution and increased active travel and also looked at public attitudes towards 20mph limits and driver compliance.

In May, 20’s Plenty was part of a National Vision Zero/20’s Plenty Conference hosted by Landor Links which focused on 20mph as a necessary foundation for any Vision Zero strategy. This was followed by our 3^rd Delivering 20 webinar in June which featured “How 20mph limits lay the foundation for Vision Zero”. The webinar included a discussion about the recently published Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) report on Progressing the UK towards Safe System Implementation. The report recommended the adoption of 20mph as a survivable speed limit for urban areas and the need for setting national limits at a survivable level and Local Authorities excepting upwards only where it is evidentially safe.

At the same time new adoptions of 20mph were becoming evident from such councils as Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Westmoreland and Furness, Gloucestershire and Hertfordshire, as well as many Scottish councils starting their 20mph as an urban/village norm roll-outs.

And in December we held our 4^th Delivering 20 webinar. This attracted 400 attendees from 184 local authorities and we heard from transport specialists unpacking the behavioural and cultural factors that shape the success of 20mph implementations. Key industry figures of Tanya Fosdick of Agilysis, Kate Carpenter of Jacobs (and Vice President of CIHT) and Prof Phil Goodwin gave their unique insights into why and how 20mph as a norm should be the future for our urban/village roads.

As of today, more than half – 120 out of 208 – of local authorities in the UK, covering 48% of the total population have a policy of 20mph being the norm for most urban/village roads. The outdated 30mph limit stands as rejected by a majority of authorities and is national in name only.

Perhaps the biggest nod from the transport industry towards 20mph as an urban/village norm came from CIHT in December when it set out priorities for the UK’s upcoming Road Safety Strategy and said :

“CIHT believes that changes to legislation and regulation are essential to deliver safer roads. We are calling on the UK Government to work with devolved authorities and road managers to align speed limits and guidance with survivable speeds. “

As we look forward to the UK Government publishing its long promised National Road Safety Strategy, we are confident that it will encompass a Safe System approach to road safety and that for this to have any credibility the strategy must acknowledge the appropriateness and need for 20mph adoption. The devil will be in the detail and whilst we are not sure of the degree of facilitation and funding for 20mph to enable it to be universally adopted throughout the rest of the UK, we are confident that 2026 will be the year when 20mph for urban/village roads will transition to become the national norm.

And finally, I really would like to acknowledge the efforts of all team members within 20’s Plenty for Us CIC, our thousands of campaigners around the country and so many supporters within transport who in 2025 did so much work to lay the foundation for our anticipated progress in 2026. Thank you.

Rod King MBE – Chair and Founder 20’s Plenty for Us CIC

January 2026