20 mph zones are now in most residential areas in Wales and some parts of Scotland and England.
In Wales, the zones have been met with mixed reviews from the public and some 20 mph signs have even been vandalised. But according to a survey in Wales 63% said they’d support a lower speed limit where they live.
But this year, Newport council announced that it's going to change some roads back to 30 mph. This is after a public consultation by Newport council which got 3,500 responses.
Just over a year on, we look at what's changed with 20 mph zone in the UK.
Our research
20 mph limits have become a contentious issue, so we asked a group of over 700 motorists to offer their thoughts on the 20 mph zones. We asked them:
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What do you think about the 20 mph zones?
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What do you think about the roads changing back to 30 mph?
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Have you noticed the 20 mph zones being enforced?
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Do you think people are following the 20 mph speed limits at the moment?
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Have you noticed congestion in your area since the zones have been introduced?
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Do you have any other comments about the 20 mph zones?
What are the latest changes to the 20 mph zones?
Newport council announced that it was changing some roads back to 30 mph. This was after a public consultation which got more than 3,500 responses. Newport city residents suggested that 335 roads should be changed back to 30 mph. But most of these don't meet the criteria for exemption.
According to the South Wales Argus, the council agreed 'in principle' to meet and discuss 16 roads that could change back to 30 mph speed limits. The roads are:
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Caerphilly Road (part)
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Bassaleg Road (part)
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Bettws Lane (part)
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Duffryn Drive
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Duffryn Way
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Frederick Street
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George Street
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Lighthouse Road (part)
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Morgan Way
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Royal Oak Hill (part)
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Tredegar House Drive
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Tregwilym Road (part)
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Usk Road (part)
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Wern Industrial Estate
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West Nash Road (part)
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Wharf Road
One of the main criticisms of the 20 mph zones in Wales was the blanket use of the 20 mph zones. So this could be the reason for the changes.
One of the motorists we spoke to said:
“I’m happy with 20 mph zones in residential areas, around schools and shops. But some of the larger roads that have been made 20 mph seem a little excessive and I think it would have made it less controversial if it wasn't a blanket rule.” Rebecca, 31
The Scottish government aims to have all residential areas at 20 mph by 2025. There are already 20 mph zones in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Argyll and Bute. There are also some areas across the highlands that have 20 mph zones.
The latest edition was Aberdeen. The council will start implementing the 20 mph zones in the north and aim to finish all areas in Aberdeen by December 2025.
The council is currently consulting on these areas:
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Dyce, Bucksburn, Danestone
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Bridge of Don
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Kingswells, Sheddocksley, Summerhill
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Northfield, Mastrick North
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Hilton, Woodside, Stockethill
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Tillydrone, Seaton, Old Aberdeen
The next set of wards that will be processed for a 20mph speed limit proposal are:
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Midstocket, Rosemount
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George St, Harbour
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Lower Deeside
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Hazlehead, Queens Cross, Countesswells
The final set of wards will be:
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Airyhall, Broomhill, Garthdee
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Torry, Ferryhill
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Kincorth, Nigg, Cove
Why did the government introduce 20 mph zones?
The government introduced 20 mph zones to improve safety in residential areas. It could also reduce emissions and improve air quality in these areas. The 20 mph zones in Wales are mostly in villages and town centres. Online, you might see them referred to as restricted roads. The Welsh government said that the 20 mph zones could mean that every year there are:
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40% fewer collisions
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6 to 10 people’s lives saved
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1,200 to 2,000 people avoiding injury
The reduction could also make it safer for ‘active travel’ like walking and cycling. The Welsh government goes on to say that the 20 mph zones could:
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Make streets safer for children who are playing
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Improve safety within communities
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Improve health and wellbeing
This isn’t the only change to encourage active travel. In 2022, the Highway Code changed to prioritise vulnerable road users like cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians. One of the rules is drivers must give way to pedestrians when they're crossing at a junction. Motorists also have to give cyclists at least 1.5 metres of room when overtaking.
The zones could also reduce noise pollution.
Another benefit of the 20 mph zones is that it could positively impact car insurance premiums.
“The government has implemented the 20 mph changes in both London, Scotland and Wales. Opinions on the 20mph zones are divided, as some drivers feel frustrated with the changes. But a slower speed limit can benefit the environment and be safer for road users. This can be especially important for built up areas, such as congestion zones or near schools and hospitals.
The speed reduction could also have a positive impact on car insurance prices. A lower speed limit could mean fewer accidents, which means less claims. So eventually, the 20 mph zones could help reduce premium prices overall.”
What our Commercial Director & Motoring Expert says:
For those who've had a 20 mph zone in their area, we asked them what they thought of the change:
“So far, I don't have an issue, the roads that have been changed seem mostly to be sensible ones in residential areas.” Sean, 55
“Around schools and side streets, then 20mph is more than adequate and sensible.” Annette, 49
“All for it. If it creates a safer environment for our communities and saves lives, then it's a no brainer. I understand people's frustrations when behind the wheel, but I think when looking at the bigger picture, adding a few more minutes to a journey is a worthy sacrifice if it means keeping people safer.” David, 36
But not everyone is so keen on the zones:
“I have mixed feelings - some of the main roads have defaulted to 20 mph, which due to wideness seems ridiculous. It also feels very slow to drive on, causing most to just ignore. But in residential areas and schools, I have no problem with it at all.” Jamie, 47
“Some roads need to be looked at again as you switch from 20 mph to 30 mph and back in a short distance. There are also a few roads that still need to be marked.” Martyn, 35
Are the 20 mph zones enforceable?
An organisation called GoSafe and the Welsh Police are using an engagement focused approach for those caught speeding in 20 mph zones. According to their website, the priority is to inform the public about the speed changes.
The initiative is called 'Operation Ugain'. In 20 mph zone areas police use speed monitoring equipment to identify people who are travelling over the speed limit.
For drivers going over the speed limit, there's a choice of 'roadside engagement' or points and a fine. You can refuse the roadside engagement, but this will result in a prosecution.
If you're exceeding the speed limit to a 'greater degree' in a 20 mph zone you could get pulled over by the police, get a speeding fine of £100 and get three penalty points.
The roadside engagement is a 10 minute presentation by The Welsh Fire and Rescue Services. Its aim is to inform drivers on:
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The change in the default speed limit
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The reasons why it's changed
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How drivers can identify the road it applies to
South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Mark Travis, said:
"Where we find people driving above 20mph, we stop drivers and speak to them about the dangers and risks of driving above the speed limit.
"We won't be taking enforcement action against those people who are actually engaging with us and trying to bring their speed down - so they won't receive a fine.
"The people who will be fined will be those driving at the highest levels. Ultimately, if necessary, we will enforce - but that is always a last resort for us."
“The 20 mph changes have been put in place for a reason and choosing to ignore them could get you into trouble.
"If you’re caught speeding, motorists could land themselves with a ticket, points on their licence or be asked to attend a speed awareness course. If you end up with points on your licence, the lowest you could pay for your insurance is £981** on average.
“Roads with the 20mph should be clearly signposted, but if you're unsure, information on any changes should be available on your local government website, if it applies."
What our Commercial Director & Motoring Expert says:
**Confused.com data 2024
I’m not sure if i’m in a 20 mph speed limit zone, how can I tell?
There should be a sign at the start of the zone telling you it’s a 20 mph limit. But you can usually assume you’re in a 20 mph zone if it’s a residential area, or a city centre. It’s also a 20 mph zone if there are lamp posts no more than 180 metres or 200 yards apart.
When you were learning to drive you might remember that these lampposts indicated a 30 mph zone. But you can now assume that these areas are 20 mph.
But some drivers are finding the 20 mph zones confusing:
“I find it's really unclear when a road is 20 mph or not. There should be repeater signs every 50 metres but I know some major roads on my commute that don't have them.” Josh, 29
Why are people tailgating me in the 20 mph zones?
There’s been reports of tailgating in 20 mph zones - this is when a motorist is driving too close behind you.
This might be because the speed limits aren’t fully enforced by speed cameras or the police. But it could simply be that drivers find the speed limit too slow. We asked motorists whether they’d noticed more tailgating in 20 mph zones:
“All the time. Some just will not abide by the rule.” Jamie, 47
“Yes, lots, especially on the commute to or from work, but I had plenty doing the same when I was going 30 mph on those roads.” Martyn, 46
“Yes! But those same people are very likely the same ones that would have tailgated me when the road was 30mph. I'm a motorcyclist, so tailgating is a big issue for me. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it is quite literally lethal to bikers. And we can be killed just as easily at 20mph as we can at 70mph. There is zero excuse for tailgating, ever.” Byron, 41
Whether you’re being tailgated on a 50 mph road or a 20 mph road, the advice on dealing with tailgaters is the same. Pull over when it’s safe to do so or let them pass. Getting angry or pulling a face in your rear view mirror could make the situation worse.
Will the 20 mph zones create congestion and increase my journey time?
The research by Transport for London suggests that the impact on journey times is ‘negligible’.
The organisation says that journey times are mainly affected by delays at junctions, rather than vehicle speeds.
The only time it might affect journeys is at off-peak times when there are less cars on the road.
We asked some drivers whether they had noticed an increase in congestion in their area because of the 20 mph speed limits. They said:
“There’s no worse congestion than usual caused by the 20 mph speed limit” Rebecca, 30
“I don't think it's made any difference here” Sean, 47
“Not really, there has always been congestion especially in rush hour, meaning reaching 20mph in the first place is a challenge.” Jamie, 47
Are there plans to introduce 20 mph speed limits in England?
There are already 20 mph zones in some areas of London and Bristol. In fact Bristol council implemented 20 mph zones between 2012 and 2015.
Manchester also has plans to introduce 20 mph zones in the city centre to make walking and cycling safer. Manchester city council is also aiming to cut 40 mph speed limits to 30 mph by 2028.
The council will introduce the zones in these areas in Manchester:
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Willows Lane area, Pennines
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Chesham Avenue, Trub area, Rochdale South
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Clay Lane, Sheffield Lane area, Rochdale North
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Hopwood Triangle area, Heywood
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Hall Drive area, Middleton
Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said:
“We’re proud to be leading the way in implementing reduced speeds on roads across Rochdale borough.
"This will be a major step towards better road safety for everyone, particularly our most vulnerable road users, like children, older residents and those who are less mobile. It will also make it easier for people to make healthier travel choices where possible, like walking and cycling.
“We’ve committed £1.2m to this important project and it’s being rolled out now, with a number of roads already having the new speed limit implemented and the next phase of the rollout set to start imminently.”
Alongside this, the council is also introducing a ban on pavement parking to make travel easier.
A small number of rural areas in parts of the UK have introduced 20 mph zones to increase safety too.
There doesn't seem to be any plans to introduce 20 mph speed limits in Northern Ireland.
But it’s not just in the UK, 30mph and 20mph limits are being introduced across the world including in:
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Spain
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France
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Italy
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Finland
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Germany
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Ecuador
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England
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Scotland
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