South Wales Central MS and Former Welsh Conservative Senedd Leader Andrew RT Davies has slammed Labour Senedd ministers, after they failed to rule out reducing speed limits to 10mph on Welsh roads.
Campaign group the Road Safety Foundation recently called for the reduction on certain roads, a suggestion Mr Davies dismissed as ludicrous.
Speaking in the Senedd, Welsh Government minister Jane Hutt failed to rule out the move, and appeared to endorse calls from the charity that 5mph speed limits are also appropriate.
Mr Davies said:
“It is frankly ludicrous that Labour Senedd ministers have failed to rule out reducing the speed limit to 10mph on Welsh roads.
“You would’ve thought they’d learn from the backlash to their 20mph policy – but instead, Jane Hutt claimed it had been welcomed by the people of Wales.
“Ridiculously, she also appeared to back calls for speed limits to be reduced to 5mph in some circumstances. Senedd ministers must get out of Cardiff Bay and start talking to real people in our communities.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please see below the Senedd’s record of proceedings from 20th May 2025
A link can also be found here
https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/15108#A97114
Laura Anne Jones 14:41:51
I would like to ask for two statements, please, if I may, business Secretary? Could I firstly request a statement from the transport Secretary? Over the weekend, there have been, as we all know, reports by the Road Safety Foundation saying that road speeds should be cut to 10 mph. Now, in most places, the idea would be laughed out of town, but after the Welsh Government’s disastrous default 20 mph speed limit, I think we need some reassurance. Could we have some reassurance, please, that this isn’t on the cards here in Wales? I know that constituents would appreciate a statement ruling out this attack on motorists as soon as possible.
Jane Hutt 14:42:59
Diolch yn fawr, Laura Anne Jones. Well, clearly, road safety is about road safety, and it is interesting that that association did come forward with proposals, based on evidence, that in some circumstances, 10 mph, let alone 10 mph, 5 mph is appropriate in terms of road speeds. I think all the evidence has shown that the roll-out of the 20 mph speed limit in Wales, as appropriately instigated by local authorities, has not only saved lives, cut insurance bills, but actually has now been welcomed by the people of Wales. So, you’ve tried to raise it on this point about road safety; I think road safety is why we are very proud of that policy.