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Tomorrow, the initial drivers who were caught going over the disputed 20mph speed limit in Wales will receive fines following the end of a period of leniency.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Wales have signed a petition requesting the elimination of what they consider a “foolish idea”. The charges have been brought forth in response.
In September, the Labour program went into action, resulting in a decrease of 10mph in the speed limit for most residential areas across the country from 30mph.
The initial proposal for the plan was put forth by Mark Drakeford, the first minister, in May 2019. The Welsh government has emphasized that this plan will decrease accidents, save lives, decrease noise pollution, and promote alternative modes of transportation such as walking or cycling instead of driving.
The government, which is controlled by the Labour party, is also aiming to promote walking and cycling, enhance overall health and wellness, and protect the environment for future generations.
However, a three-month “grace period” was implemented to give individuals time to adapt to the change and for Highways authorities to make necessary adjustments to road signs and Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs).
A damaged road sign indicating a speed limit of 20 miles per hour on Sloper Road in Cardiff, Wales.
Currently, a petition has gathered over 460,000 signatures demanding a reversal of the plan.
According to Mark Baker, the Welsh creator of the petition, the current government has not presented proof that lowering the speed limit will effectively prevent deaths.
Mr. Baker stated that the Welsh government has not provided sufficient evidence to back up their claims of safety.
The WG Climate Change department is leading this law, not Health & Safety!
He stated, “We feel unheard. The Welsh government was chosen by the citizens of Wales. We hold authority over you! We insist that this impractical notion is halted.”
The minimum limit for issuing tickets will be 10% above the speed limit plus 2 miles per hour. This means that a driver will only receive a ticket if they are going over 24 miles per hour.
However, as the general public adapts to the alteration, police leaders have raised the minimum speed limit to 26 miles per hour.
Source: independent.co.uk
