Drivers Caught Breaking Wales’ 20mph Speed Limit in 2024
In 2024, over 85,000 drivers were caught violating Wales’ new 20mph speed limit, raising concerns about road safety and enforcement.
Wales, Speed Limit, Traffic Violations, GoSafe, Operation Ugain
Cardiff: So, it turns out that more than 85,000 drivers were caught speeding in Wales this year. Can you believe it? The numbers show that 85,047 folks were nabbed for breaking the new 20mph speed limit.
This law kicked in on September 17, 2023, but they gave everyone a heads-up that fines wouldn’t start right away. They wanted drivers to get used to the change first. The data comes in two parts: one for south and mid Wales and another for north Wales. Enforcement really got going in December 2023 for the south and mid, while north Wales started in March 2024.
August was a big month for speeding, especially in south and mid Wales, where 7,326 drivers were caught. North Wales had a similar story, with 7,958 drivers caught that same month. GoSafe, the organization behind the stats, also tracked the highest speeds and averages.
Speaking of speeds, the fastest recorded in mid and south Wales was a wild 88mph in May 2024. North Wales had two drivers hit that same speed in May and July. The average speeds were also notable, with south and mid Wales averaging 30.4mph in April and north Wales hitting 32.4mph in June.
Now, this whole speed limit thing has stirred up quite a bit of controversy. There was even a massive petition against it. To help with enforcement, they set up Operation Ugain, which is a collaboration between police, fire services, councils, and GoSafe. Instead of just slapping fines on speeders, they invite them to a local building to watch a presentation. Pretty interesting approach, right?
The 85,047 drivers caught includes those flagged by speed cameras and checks all over Wales. Operation Ugain reported that they checked speeds for 322,938 drivers in 2024, with 309,395 of them staying under the enforcement threshold of 26mph in a 20mph zone. GoSafe noted that 13,543 drivers were caught speeding during these checks.
Since the law came into play, the Welsh Government has been reviewing it. They’ve even hinted that some areas might go back to 30mph. People have been encouraged to reach out to their councils about roads they think should change speed limits. Some councils are already making adjustments, while others are taking their time. Transport minister Ken Skates has also set aside £5 million for councils wanting to change roads from 20mph.