Neath Port Talbot Council in Wales has announced that it has no plans to roll back any of the new 20mph speed limits introduced in 2023.

The decision was made following a council report, which stated that officers were ‘unable' to recommend a return to 30mph limits on restricted roads, based on an assessment of ‘a number of routes', using criteria such as proximity to schools, community facilities and medical facilities, impact on active travel and public transport routes and stakeholder feedback.

The report also states that ‘safety, efficiency and community well-being' were also taken into consideration, and with all of these, the officers concluded that the best decision was to continue with the lower speed limits.

It concludes: ‘A report was brought before members on November 13, 2024, seeking authority for the head of engineering and transport to undertake individual risk assessments of areas as requested by members alongside the resident feedback. Since that time officers have assessed routes brought forward for consideration and on the basis of the current guidance it would suggest no changes are made.'

When first implemented, reducing the default limit to 20mph meant replacing the previous 30mph limit in 92% of areas in Neath Port Talbot, with only 36 exceptions remaining unchanged.

'Further reviews will be carried out inline with WG's ‘Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales Guidance' due to be published in the New Year; this guidance is an extension of WG's previous commitment under Llwybr Newydd – The Wales Transport Strategy 2021, to produce a partnership plan for road safety,' the council report adds.

Despite some initial public objections, advocates of the move to default 20mph limits on restricted roads now point to data that suggests the network has been made safer.

For instance, a national monitoring report from Transport for Wales in 2024 found: 'Vehicle speeds on 20mph main through roads have fallen by an average of 4.3mph, with reductions evident soon after the new limit was introduced. 58% of vehicles are now being driven at or below 24mph, compared to 20% before. These reductions are expected to lower the collision risk and the severity of resulting injuries.'