Earlier this year, insurer esure noticed a significant drop in reported accidental damage claims from its Welsh customers after implementation of the national default 20mph limit for urban/village roads. This echoed both lower actual speeds and a reduction in casualties. As a result esure has been reducing its insurance premiums for Welsh drivers.

Data released by the Welsh Government on 31 July 2024 for the first six months of its 20mph national default speed limit on built-up roads shows 351 (29%) fewer casualties compared with the equivalent period last year (October to March).  This follows on from the reported drop in speeds of 2 - 4mph.  Having noticed lower vehicle damage claims, esure Group has now reduced insurance costs for drivers in Wales.   Although two quarters of data are not definitive, the combination of lower speeds, fewer casualties and reduced vehicle damage claims, all indicate real benefits that are a trend and not a ‘blip’.

Insurance company esure has issued a press release[1] that vehicle damage claims have reduced by 20% since the nationwide 20mph speed limit was introduced in Wales in September 2023. This contrasts with England, where the company did not see a similar drop in claims.

Wales was one of the first countries in the world, and the first nation in the UK, to introduce legislation for a default 20mph speed limit. Early results from trial sites in 2022 which showed a 3mph reduction in speeds[2] were confirmed in reports on the nationwide implementation[3][4][5].

20mph limits can actually shorten journey times, rather than making them longer.  New research from Prof Dr Niels Benedikter at the University of Milan confirms 30 km/h (18.5 mph) as the optimal speed limit for minimising delays through traffic congestion.   “…the largest number of cars [that] can pass a given road section [is] about 2,000 cars, at the optimal velocity of 31 km/h. Therefore, citizen’s time wasted due to traffic congestion can be minimized by decreasing urban speed limits to 30 km/h"

Mayors have wide responsibilities for their residents in making public spaces safer, friendlier, quieter, cleaner and more liveable. 20mph limits are key in delivering those important benefits.

Many mayors are showing strategic leadership by supporting, funding and facilitating the adoption of 20mph across wide areas.  ***IS YOURS?***

Lucerne, Switzerland has produced 8 excellent fact sheets about 30km/h (18.5mph). They describe how 30km/h affects quality of life (better), noise (less), road safety (increased), air quality (improved), travel time (little difference), bus journey times (rarely any difference), road capacity (helps) and neighbourhoods (nicer).   

Here are answers to the questions that we are asked most frequently about 20mph, including a short video. Answers are fully referenced with more detail. The most common questions are about the benefits of 20mph (fewer casualties, lower emissions, supports active travel), whether 20mph is popular (it is), can it be enforced (yes) and whether it creates more emissions (it doesn't). It's cost effective and has little or no impact on journey times (even buses).

20mph is as enforceable as any speed limit.  20’s Plenty for Us asked Police Forces whether and how they actually enforce 20mph speed limits.  Many do enforce 20mph and 2/3 of speeding tickets come from Fixed Cameras (across ALL speed limits) 

*** WONDERFUL conference with over 120 attendees

*** COMMITMENT to 20mph in Scotland by 2025

*** CONSENSUS that default 30mph not 'fit-for-purpose' in the 21^st Century

*** DEBATE no longer about whether to implement 20mph, but how to maximise benefits

*** 20mph implemented to SUIT LOCAL NEEDS

*** Latest data shows REDUCTIONS of up to 8mph on faster roads

*********THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPANTS*********

Multiple organisations sign open letter in support of safer streets in Wales. 

The initiative is supported by many Welsh and UK-wide organisations who see real benefits for their members. And whilst some supporting organisations are not be able to make their support public due to internal policies, we are pleased that a range of organisations and NGOs are keen to make their support tangible by being part of our open letter to the press and media.

Hi

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Rod, Anna, Sue

School banners measure 2.0m * 0.6m. They come with eyelets and are made from 210gsm polyester fabric which can be washed and recycled.  They are designed to ask councillors to implement 20mph to make it safer for children to walk or cycle to school

The banners cost £45 each plus £10 p&p. To purchase 1, 2 or 3 banners, click on the £55, £100 or £145 buttons and allow 5 working days for us to send them to you. If you want more than 3 banners, or you need delivery outside the UK please contact us.

Our banners, which are 1.5m wide * 1m high, come with eyelets and are made from 210gsm polyester fabric which can be washed and recycled.  They can be used anywhere to highlight to drivers how they can make your place a better place to be.  They cost £45 each plus £10 p&p.

To purchase 1, 2 or 3 banners, click on the £55, £100 or £145 buttons and allow 5 working days for us to send them to you. If you want more than 3 banners, or you need delivery outside the UK please contact us. 

Calls from communities across the UK for wide-area 20mph speed limits are increasing as the number of local 20’s Plenty Campaigns approaches a significant new milestone. The UK demand for lower speed limits is gaining momentum as the total number of local 20’s Plenty Campaigns is on target to reach 600 in the near future. 

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Parish and Town Councils that adopt a resolution in favour of 20mph where people live, work and play not only reflect local community wishes but demonstrate that support to the local Highway Authority.