Wales Blanket 20mph help

[onstr296]

So I was travelling last week in wales and entered a signed 30mph 2 lane road from a 40mph. My understanding is that if it’s signed 30mph, it’s 30 right?
I travelled at 20 on the same road further down (link 2) and was beeped at and tailgated by lorries. I feel like I was in the wrong
Does there need to be repeater signs in place or not?

Thank you

Roads in question
1. https://maps.app.goo.gl/1r9ZDYP5Fn9xRNdq7?g_st=ic
2. https://maps.app.goo.gl/hkRbVsyWzbCjAemA9?g_st=ic

Edited by onstr296 on Wednesday 25th October 13:16

[MustangGT]

Roads signed 30 mph and having street lamps must not have repeaters. From your google links then that is a 30 mph zone.

On the second link is it the same road, or a different one? If the same, then 30, if not then did the section start with a 30 mph sign?

[onstr296]

Thank you for the response.
It’s a bit further down and it’s second exit on the roundabout.
So basically it’s only 20mph in Wales where there are no official speed limit signs and there are street lights present?

Edited by onstr296 on Wednesday 25th October 13:15

[tivver500]

In Wales now the 'default' speed limit is 20mph, not 30mph so any 30mph roads should (and generally do) have repeater signs saying 30mph.
It's still a bit confusing as to what sped limit is in force on a piece of road.....
Was driving around the valleys at the weekend!!

[LotsOfLaughs]

Yeah, the speed limit is always whatever the sign says

[No ideas for a name]

LotsOfLaughs said:

Yeah, the speed limit is always whatever the sign says

Further down that road, suspiciously, those presumably 30mph signs are covered.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mZzybBLeMp62hTm29

You would assume, like the OP, that with the absence of 30mph repeaters, it would drop to 20 after a certain distance. Though in the remainder of the UK, you can't have 30mph repeaters.
It really depends on the detail of the legislation that the Welsh dreamed up.

[onstr296]

It’ll be interesting to see what the legislation is/will be lol.
I don’t mind doing it on that single lane road, but it feels very sketchy and I feel out of place sticking to 20 on the 2 lane road I linked.

[Pica-Pica]

MustangGT said:

Roads signed 30 mph and having street lamps must not have repeaters. From your google links then that is a 30 mph zone.

On the second link is it the same road, or a different one? If the same, then 30, if not then did the section start with a 30 mph sign?

Incorrect. The DEFAULT limit in Wales for roads with street lamps is 20mph. Repeaters are required for any other speed limit.
https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

and Highway Code (as of 16 Sept 2023)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/gener...

[MustangGT]

Pica-Pica said:

Incorrect. The DEFAULT limit in Wales for roads with street lamps is 20mph. Repeaters are required for any other speed limit.
https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

and Highway Code (as of 16 Sept 2023)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/gener...

Thanks Pica-Pica.

I wonder how long it will be before being overturned. Daftness in the extreme. Even the Welsh Labour party have numbers that show the 'saving' in NHS costs are far outweighed by the added cost to businesses.

[mac96]

Now that it has been around a few weeks I have noticed it is having unintended consequences too; for example where ring roads are restricted to 20 mph, it becomes logical to ignore them and drive through the centre of towns. I assume (hope!) these sort of issues will be sorted out over the next year or so.

[Max5476]

mac96 said:

Now that it has been around a few weeks I have noticed it is having unintended consequences too; for example where ring roads are restricted to 20 mph, it becomes logical to ignore them and drive through the centre of towns. I assume (hope!) these sort of issues will be sorted out over the next year or so.

Having been in Wales last week, my observation around the 20 limits is, can they now remove the speed bumps! (Far to hopeful, I know)

[zarjaz1991]

mac96 said:

Now that it has been around a few weeks I have noticed it is having unintended consequences too; for example where ring roads are restricted to 20 mph, it becomes logical to ignore them and drive through the centre of towns. I assume (hope!) these sort of issues will be sorted out over the next year or so.

The only way they will be “sorted out” will be stricter enforcement, and wider use of them.

It’s not about safety. They don’t want you driving.

[livinginasia]

zarjaz1991 said:

The only way they will be “sorted out” will be stricter enforcement, and wider use of them.

It’s not about safety. They don’t want you driving.

They do want you driving, they just want you to pay more to do it.

[sospan]

mac96 said:

Now that it has been around a few weeks I have noticed it is having unintended consequences too; for example where ring roads are restricted to 20 mph, it becomes logical to ignore them and drive through the centre of towns. I assume (hope!) these sort of issues will be sorted out over the next year or so.

This happening in my area. I was already choosing routes based on time of day to reduce the effect of traffic choke points and tailbacks. Local knowledge means I can take short diversions to either avoid/reduce the tailbacks by coming to choke points from different directions. I can’t avoid the choke points completely but can reduce their effect. It means going through 20 zones but is effective. Basically creating rat runs. So far it looks like only some do the same so rat run traffic is not yet an issue.