'I drove through the 20mph roads in Cardiff - I get why people are annoyed'
As Welsh residents prepare for the changes to their 30mph roads becoming 20mph from September 17, many oppose the new restrictions. Made in July 2022, by the Senedd, the Welsh Government argues this will be beneficial as it claims it will reduce pollution and the number of serious crashes on the roads.
The law means that most roads in Wales which were formerly 30mph will now be 20mph, and many locals say it will cost money or waste time or even both. Wales Online Welsh Affairs Editor Will Hayward decided to spend an hour driving around the Welsh capital of Cardiff at 20mph to see what it was like.
Will wanted to see what all the fuss was about with the restrictions changing (WalesOnline/ Rob Browne)
Most roads in Wales will now be 20mph instead of 30mph (WalesOnline/ Rob Browne)As he admitted he was in support of the new road restrictions, he shared he's received messages from people saying that they would be more likely to have a crash because they will be "watching the speedometer constantly", but since driving a 20mph route, he said he now knows why people find it annoying.
Driving through built-up areas, Will explained for Wales Online: "I couldn't really have exceeded 20mph if I'd tried. There was too much traffic. The times that I could have got up to 30mph would most likely have meant that I'd get to the next set of traffic lights quicker and have to wait there longer. However, once I got to areas like Roath Lake (Cardiff), where there are fewer cars, the road is quite wide and you can see further, I must admit keeping within the limit became more of a struggle. It felt glacially slow to be tootling along downhill, clearly able to see a long way and having to chug along at 20mph."
The government stated it's safer, and a lot more economical for roads to be restricted to 20mph, as getting hit by a car at the point a 20mph car would have stopped, a 30mph car would still be doing 24mph. One issue Will faced however was the gear changes, as he was cruising in third gear as he felt it was "more economical" but soon realised it only worked if he was driving at exactly 20mph as his car would struggle if he was going any slower. When going down to second made him feel like he "had less control".
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"This is where the Welsh Government's argument that the 20mph will reduce emissions feels confused. Lower gears tend to mean a less efficient car. There is merit to this criticism. However, like with everything to do with this policy, there is a balance. Slower speeds tend to mean less braking and faster acceleration. This helps mean lower emissions. I absolutely did notice that I was braking less at 20mph than 30mph," he added.
He also admitted he was surprised at the "lack of tailgaters" when driving at 20mph and was "stunned at how considerate people drove." Overall, Will admitted it was "jarring" to keep driving at the slow speed, but he concluded: "In the same way it is frustrating when you have driven on the motorway for hours and suddenly going onto a 40mph road feels slow. After a while, you just get used to it...I just don't think any of this is a big deal."
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