The Welsh Conservatives have slammed Labour over its inaction to scrap the controversial 20mph speed limits as new data shows 13,500 drivers were caught in September.
Last September, the Labour Government made sweeping changes to ensure all restricted roads have their speed limits cut to just 20mph in the interests of road safety.
One year later, new data from the GoSafe enforcement partnership found that 6,840 offences were spotted in Mid and South Wales, with a further 6,667 in North Wales.
The research also revealed that the average offence speed in Mid and South Wales was 28.4mph, while speeds were slightly higher in North Wales at 28.6mph.
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More than 53,000 offences have been recorded since November last year
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While this is a drop in total offences compared to August 2024, September still represents the second-highest month in terms of offences.
Andrew RT Davies MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, has slammed Labour for not yet ditching the unpopular scheme and continuing to target motorists.
He said: “When it is finally scrapped, people will look back at this policy as an enormous failure.
“While motorists who completely disregard speed limits should face consequences, the average offence speed suggests that many motorists are confused by the new rules, which even Welsh Government Ministers admit have been badly rolled out.
“The Welsh Conservatives would scrap these barmy rules and limit 20mph zones to common sense areas like outside schools and hospitals.”
While the rules were introduced last September, enforcement was delayed to allow people to adjust to the changes and to change the necessary road signs.
It also gave local authorities time to prioritise roadside engagement sessions rather than instantly issuing a fine, which may not deter some motorists from breaking the limit.
Roadside engagement sessions have continued to be run by GoSafe, Welsh Fire and Rescue Services, and other partners, to help drivers adjust to the change.
These sessions will continue throughout 2024 with dedicated teams working under GoSafe to deliver them via the “Operation Ugain” strategy.
The data also found that drivers in Mid and South Wales were reaching far lower maximum speeds compared to North Wales.
In September, the highest offence speed in North Wales was 85mph, compared to 62mph in Mid and South Wales. This was the second-highest maximum speed seen in North Wales since data started being recorded in March.
Since the beginning of the GoSafe data collection, a total of 31,233 speeding offences have been recorded in Mid and South Wales, in addition to 21,611 in North Wales. In total, almost 53,000 offences have been recorded.
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The 20mph speed limits have been met with fierce criticism from the Welsh public
PA
In September, of the almost 25,000 vehicles monitored, 95 per cent were found to be driving at 25mph or less. Because of this, they will not face any fines.
