20mph speed limit across Wales

15 September 2023

The Welsh Government is introducing a default 20mph speed limit on “restricted roads” across Wales. 

More about this change including what types of roads will be affected is available on the GOV.Wales website.

DVSA is updating the online versions of the Highway Code immediately to include this change.

We will also include it in the next printed editions of the Highway Code in both languages.

It follows four years of work between the Welsh Government and local authorities, police and road safety experts to design a change in law, making Wales the first UK nation to reset the default speed limit for local roads. It also points to evidence from Spain, where the speed limit on the majority of urban roads was changed to 30km/h in 2019. Since then, Spain has reported 20% fewer urban road deaths, with fatalities reduced by 34% for cyclists and 24% for pedestrians.

Further information about speed limits can be found on the Road Safety Observatory here.