Gwent AM calls for more 20mph zones (From South Wales Argus)

Gwent AM calls for more 20mph zones

2:20pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By David Deans - Politics reporter

SAFETY CALL: Jocelyn Davies, Plaid AM for South Wales East

CALLS were made yesterday for more 20mph zones on Welsh roads in an effort to save lives.

Jocelyn Davies, Plaid AM for South Wales East, was one of four Assembly members who backed a debate into the issue at the Assembly yesterday.

She hopes that the Assembly can make the country one of the safest in the world for pedestrians.

The debate called on councils to introduce more of the zones. Research by the Welsh Government found that 20mph zones can reduce road casualties by around 40 per cent.

Ms Davies said that about 560 20mph zones have been put in place in Wales, many funded by the Welsh Government.

But because the zones can only be set by local government, and Wales does not have powers over speed limits, she says 20mph coverage is patchy.

A trial in Port Talbot, she said, produced a reduction in personal injuries of 48 per cent.

“Evidence suggests that reductions in speed limits save lives and reduce serious injuries,” she said.

“As an Assembly, we must do all we can to speed up the reductions in casualty rates that have been achieved in recent years, and make Wales one of the safest countries in the world for pedestrians.”

The Welsh Government does not have the power to change national speed limits.

However, it has called on local authorities to increase the number of 20mph zones.

Transport Minister Carl Sargeant said last year that there was a “direct correlation”

between lower speed limits and reduced casualty rates.