You may or may not be aware that in Cymru over the weekend the default speed limit in 30mph areas was reduced to 20mph.
Initially I though this would be a mild inconvenience but the reality is that it's made no difference in my journey time to work.
What has amused me though, and made me support its introduction, is the fuming that's going on about it. Especially by the Tories here. They've been really vocal in stating it's going to be a disaster yet they themselves were in favour when it was put to the vote in the Senedd a few years ago. If you want a laugh just look at this Twitter account from the leader of the Welsh Tories - https://twitter.com/AndrewRTDavies. This being a particular recent classic - https://x.com/AndrewRTDavies/status/1704414383957275010?s=20.
I suspect it's just that a lot of them don't like us doing our own thing here and that we show be following the UK line. They've also been 'furious' about the following in the last year too.
- A ban on smacking kids
- Council Tax premium on second/holiday homes.
- A proposal that people will need planning permission to change a residential property into an Airbnb/holiday let.
All the above, IMO, are pretty good things to have and it makes me quite happy to be living in a progressive country where policies aren't just made to be popular.
One of the most bizarre reasons against the 20mph limit I've read is that one person thought it would reduce the number of organs being donated as accidents would be reduced!
I know some of you live in places with 20mph areas. What do you think of them? Four days in and I've already got used to them to be honest.
20mph
posted on 20/9/23
comment by Del Big Ange Postecoglou (U22000)
posted 36 minutes ago
I live in Cardiff and it makes hardly no difference at all.
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If you're living in say the Birchgrove/Heath area of cardiff or a large amount of residential streets then yeah it makes sense and it's hardly notificable with all the cars parked on the side of the road already.
On certain roads in cardiff though they are clearly designed to be 30mph and it feels like an absolute crawl.
The signs really need to be sorted out too, as by my theres a sign that appears new and says 30mph, but about 100 yards down the road in the opposite direction it says this is a 20mph zone, and the websites showing the new speed limits show the area to be a 20mph zone. On this road there are two primary schools next to it. So which is it if one sign says 30 and another 20? People will just continue with 30
posted on 20/9/23
There is a lack of consistency from county to county (in the north anyway) to where they have changed from 30 to 20. I’ve found in my car that I’m using more fuel too, having to drive in second gear rather than third. It makes me wonder if fuel usage was given real consideration. I know cars have different gear ratios, but I’ve calculated that I will use about 20% more fuel over a working week. As I travel mostly rural roads, it has added to my commute in both time and money.
posted on 20/9/23
*10% not 20%
posted on 20/9/23
comment by Vorsprung durch Poch (U1641)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 7 minutes ago
According to a poll, 2/3 of the Welsh are against it.
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One of the largest petitions in Welsh history is notching up figures as we speak. Now 250k signatures
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These petitions are so easy to game though. Just set up a different e-mail address and provide a fake name and it works.
Babyen - I believe Conwy were slow on the uptake in terms of where there would be exemptions. After this settles down I predict Local Authorities will grant more exemptions.
posted on 20/9/23
comment by Joel Avram Harry - They Shall Not Pass 🏴 (U17162)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Del Big Ange Postecoglou (U22000)
posted 36 minutes ago
I live in Cardiff and it makes hardly no difference at all.
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If you're living in say the Birchgrove/Heath area of cardiff or a large amount of residential streets then yeah it makes sense and it's hardly notificable with all the cars parked on the side of the road already.
On certain roads in cardiff though they are clearly designed to be 30mph and it feels like an absolute crawl.
The signs really need to be sorted out too, as by my theres a sign that appears new and says 30mph, but about 100 yards down the road in the opposite direction it says this is a 20mph zone, and the websites showing the new speed limits show the area to be a 20mph zone. On this road there are two primary schools next to it. So which is it if one sign says 30 and another 20? People will just continue with 30
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In Scotland, we carry out an exemption exercise where certain streets are kept at 30mph based on number of houses, proximity to schools, frontages etc. as not all 30mph streets really need to be reduced to 20mph. It can do more damage than good when you have a few instances of things being implemented that are not appropriate for that street. People will be more likely to ignore the speed limit, meaning they would then be more likely to ignore other 20mph limits where they are more needed.
Same with ULEZ. If it is implemented in areas which people deem it inappropriate, it will impact on the effectiveness of its implementation in areas where it is deemed more appropriate. In terms of enforcement.
posted on 20/9/23
comment by Amadou Bakayoko (U1734)
posted 1 hour, 30 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - Whiteside has done it again (U21434)
posted 1 minute ago
Conservatives just dont like change. The clue is in their name.
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The reduction from 30mph to 20mph will actually slow down change, in their location between one place and another, so they should be happy.
But seriously, if they are annoyed that they have less of a chance of killing a kid now they can always take solace in the fact that loads are starving to death, slowly in a more cruel manner than getting hit by a car, so their vote hasn't been wasted.
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Are you capable of being serious, Barry?
posted on 20/9/23
I’ve heard of the Jacob report and there are many other reports that dispute their figures.
posted on 20/9/23
comment by RB&W - Whiteside has done it again (U21434)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Amadou Bakayoko (U1734)
posted 1 hour, 30 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - Whiteside has done it again (U21434)
posted 1 minute ago
Conservatives just dont like change. The clue is in their name.
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The reduction from 30mph to 20mph will actually slow down change, in their location between one place and another, so they should be happy.
But seriously, if they are annoyed that they have less of a chance of killing a kid now they can always take solace in the fact that loads are starving to death, slowly in a more cruel manner than getting hit by a car, so their vote hasn't been wasted.
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Are you capable of being serious, Barry?
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Read above comment. But generally, no.
posted on 20/9/23
Will going slower cost more on metered taxi journeys?
posted on 20/9/23
comment by RED666👺 The Influencer (U6562)
posted 1 minute ago
Will going slower cost more on metered taxi journeys?
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I can confirm that it will affect Taxis. They will no longer be able to do 45mph on a 30mph street. They will now be doing 45mph on a 20mph street.