Welsh councils win award for key role in 20mph default limit roll-out

The roll-out of 20mph as the default speed limit across Wales has been hailed by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) for reducing road casualties and improving safety for all transport users. 

At its annual awards ceremony last month, CIHT Cymru presented the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) with the Alun Griffiths Award for Health, Safety and Wellbeing.  

Campaign group 20's Plenty for Us nominated the WLGA and its 22 Highway Authorities members for their work over a four-year period in planning and achieving the 20mph default in September 2023. The initiative has resulted in 28% fewer road casualties over first nine months, said 20’s Plenty.

From the initial planning stages of the 20mph national default speed limit project in 2019, WLGA was embedded in the Welsh Government's Task Force. It provided key inputs and perspectives from the 22 councils that would be tasked with implementing the scheme.

The WLGGA’s Kaarina Ruta, who co-ordinated the roll-out of the 20mph limit, said: “I was delighted to receive the award on behalf of all the local authorities in Wales and see their hard work recognised by the CIHT. The award is dedicated to everyone who played a part in making 20mph in built-up areas the default in Wales and a celebration of the lives saved because of it. I would also like to thank 20’s Plenty for Us for the nomination.”

Rod King MBE, Chair of 20's Plenty for Us CIC said: "It was great to see highway and transport professionals from across Wales celebrating the annual CIHT Cymru awards for outstanding achievements and projects.

Changing the way that we all share our roads needs commitment and effort from local authorities and national governments alike.  Winning this award demonstrates the major contribution of WLGA to this transformative change to the health, safety and wellbeing of Welsh communities.

“This Award is testament to the WLGA's action in deploying 20mph in a progressive and pragmatic way and making Welsh places better places to be."

King described the default 20mph as the single biggest contribution to health, safety and wellbeing on Welsh roads in the past year. He pointed to the “sheer scale of the change”, which 20mp rise from 2.5% to 37% of Welsh road.

The reduction in casualties of 28% for the first nine months is more twice the previous largest year-on-year reduction, said King.