20mph speed limit changes 'created a problem' for drivers as Welsh First Minister admits mistakes

The move was met with strong criticism from motorists who said the change would slow roads down, increase congestion and generally be a waste of money.

A petition was launched to call on the Welsh Government to scrap the "disastrous" 20mph law as the creator of the petition, Mark Baker, said the "foolish idea" needed to be stopped.

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The petition became the most popular vote on the Senedd website in history with almost 470,000 signatures, beating out calls for changes to Covid restrictions and support for NHS facilities.

The Welsh Government eventually admitted defeat and announced that it would work with local authorities to minimise disruption and roll the speed limits out in a targeted manner with advice from the community.

Wales has seen a number of key changes to its Government over the last 12 months, including the resignation of former First Minister Mark Drakeford, with the 20mph speed limits playing a role in events.

However, new First Minister Eluned Morgan has now conceded that the Government moved too quickly with the law changes, adding that it was one of the key priorities for voters.

Speaking to the BBC's Newscast podcast, she said: "If you impose too much without laying the ground out then, obviously, that's going to create a problem. And it created a problem, we have got to acknowledge that.

"We have got to have a reset, we have got to have that revision and, you know, literally hundreds of people have written in to their local council saying 'how about changing this road back?'

"We're revising the guidelines. There were opportunities for councils to make exemptions and some councils took that opportunity and put loads of exemptions in place. And in those areas the grumblings are not so great. Other councils are saying 'okay, we'll have a look at those exemptions again'."

Morgan, who represents Mid and West Wales in the Senedd, and was previously Health Minister, noted that the Government wanted to keep the 20mph speed limits around schools, hospitals and playgrounds.

Data published in June earlier this year found that the number of casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads had dropped since the introduction of the rule changes last September.

The Highway Code also states that in the distance it takes for a 20mph car to stop, a 30mph car would still be doing around 24mph, which the Government highlighted as supporting evidence to implement the new rules.

Despite the new approach from the Government, Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, said Labour were making mistakes by not scrapping the policy completely.

He added: "The first minister will know from her summer 'listening exercise' that people in Wales want the default 20mph speed limit scrapped, but the policy remains in place.

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"The Welsh Conservatives would scrap the policy and keep 20mph speed limits in places they’re needed, like outside schools."