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From September 17, Wales will become one of the few countries in the world to have a default 20mph speed limit in residential and busy pedestrian areas.

The Welsh Government has said reducing the speed limit on many roads from 30mph to 20mph will make streets safer, encourage people to walk and cycle, improve health and wellbeing, as well as protecting the environment.

Currently, around 2.5% of roads in Wales have 20mph limits, but this is now set to rise to 35% from September. However, not all 30mph zones will be affected.

The Welsh Government has said it will work with highways authorities to identify potential roads where speed limits can be reduced, as well as those which will remain at 30mph.

The decision on which roads will be affected will be made by councils.

The Welsh Government says reducing the speed limit could result in:

• 40% fewer collisions
• Between six and ten lives being saved every year
• Between 1,200 and 2,000 fewer people getting injured every year

Deputy minister for climate change, Lee Waters, said: “We want people to look out for each other. This is a big change to help communities and to save lives and it starts in six months.

“Twenty will become the new 30 and it is time we all get ready.”

Caerphilly’s Labour Senedd Member Hefin David welcomed the introduction “in areas where there has been a history of tragic or nasty accidents”.

He said: “Sadly, we have seen too many of these in Caerphilly in recent years.

“The 20mph limit will also help to tackle excessive air pollution, which is a serious problem in built up areas.

“However, the default limit needs to be appropriate to the local area, and residents should be listened to.

“In these areas, Caerphilly County Borough Council must commit to keeping the default speed limit under review and reverting to the previous limit if 20 is found not to be suitable.”

The Welsh Conservatives’ shadow transport minister, Natasha Asghar, said: “I, alongside the Welsh Conservatives, are more than happy for 20mph to be introduced outside, schools, play areas, high streets, and places of worship where high volumes of people can be gathered.

“However, the blanket 20mph is absurd. It will be detrimental to the Welsh economy, which still hasn’t recovered fully since the pandemic.

“There is no concrete evidence that this 20mph speed limit will even lead to lower emissions. In fact, it’s more likely to lead to slower driving. Therefore, creating more congestion and more cars backed up will lead to more emissions.”

Ms Asghar, who represents the South Wales East region, added: “Millions of pounds have been spent on new 20mph road signs. The public outcry has been witnessed by everyone in the Welsh Parliament about this, and it’s evident with the number of constituents who have been in touch and those signing petitions.

“So I’m yet to be convinced that there is even any point to this blanket rollout 20mph speed limit all across Wales.”

Visit the Welsh Government’s website for more information on the campaign and its rollout.