A motorist has been recorded driving at a shocking 88mph in a 20mph zone as the number of speeding fines issued continues to rocket.
The new limit was introduced nationwide in Wales last September, leading to huge public outcry. The enforcement of the new 20mph zones gradually increased from mid-March, and information from data released by Go Safe, which is enforcing the new default speed limit, shows more and more motorists are ignoring the restriction.
In April alone, 742 drivers were caught exceeding the threshold of 26mph on 20mph roads in the country - however, this figure skyrocketed to 4,286 in May. This surge has resulted in a significant increase in penalty points and fines, with the revenue being directed to the UK Treasury, WalesOnline report.
The average speed of those caught in North Wales was just over 32mph, while in South and Mid Wales it was 28mph. Yet, the highest speed recorded by Go Safe in both monitoring areas was an alarming 88mph - more than four times the legal limit. The previous highest speed recorded on a 20mph road since the introduction of the limit had been 70mph.
Welsh officials have been met with criticism over the nationwide limit (Julian Hamilton/Daily Express)The news comes as Transport for Wales has published new results from speed monitoring data following the implementation of the default 20mph limit in Wales. The data was gathered from the monitoring of 3.5million vehicles. The analysis is based on a total of eight weeks of speed monitoring, with four weeks pre-implementation (before September 17, 2023) and four weeks post-implementation (after September 17, 2023).
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The pre-implementation monitoring took place over two, two-week periods in July and September, 2023. Post-implementation speed monitoring occurred over a two-week period in November, 2023, and two weeks in January, 2024, reports North Wales Live.
All roads monitored had a 30mph speed limit before September 17, 2023 and a 20mph speed limit from September 17, 2023 onwards. TfW said at the time of monitoring, all roads were largely free from physical restrictions or obstructions that reduced traffic speeds.
The report classed anyone who was driving below 24mph as compliant - despite the threshold actually being 26mph at this current time. It found that across all monitoring areas and sites, 57.8% of vehicles were travelling at or below 24mph following the introduction of the default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads. Before the introduction, 20.2% of vehicles were travelling at or below 24mph.
The so-called 85th percentile speed, weighted by total vehicle volume, has decreased by 3.9mph, from 33.1mph to 29.2mph. This is the speed at or below which 85 percent of the drivers travel on a road segment. The mean speed, weighted by total vehicle volume, decreased from 28.9mph pre-implementation to 24.6mph post-implementation, a reduction of 4.3mph.
Transport for Wales reported a significant shift in driving patterns following the implementation of the default 20mph speed limit, noting: "The proportion of vehicles recorded travelling at 15-19mph increased from 3.5% pre-implementation to 16.4% post-implementation. Similarly, the share of vehicles travelling between 20-24mph has increased by 23.6 percentage points to 38.9% post-implementation. The number of vehicles recorded travelling at 25-29mph, 30-34mph and 35mph and above have all reduced following the introduction of the default 20mph speed limit."
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