The new Labour government has decided not to copy former First Minister Mark Drakeford's most controversial policy. Reducing the default 30mph speed limit to 20mph was introduced in Wales in September last year with the aim of improving road safety. The number of crashes has fallen significantly , the latest data show, but the policy has proven highly controversial and the Welsh Government has been asking councils to review their lists of exempted roads with a view to increasing speed limits in some areas.
In England, the new transport minister has said very clearly that she does not want to take decisions centrally on 20mph speed limits. She very said she wanted to avoid "culture wars". However she said she would support councils that wanted to bring in 20mph zones.
READ MORE: YouGov poll shows falling support for Wales' 20mph speed limit as first fines issued READ MORE: Dad who wants to build row of luxury homes for his daughters has 'bonkers' application refused Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: "It all has to be done with communities, absolutely, and the worst thing you can do is put the wrong schemes in because then it erodes that support and they can be unsafe in some circumstances." In 2022, the Welsh Labour government, with the support of Plaid Cymru , announced a policy that reduced speed limits in built-up areas from 30mph to 20mph, taking effect last September. The hope was to reduce collisions, cut noise and encourage more to use alternative modes of transpor.